CLUB LICENSING DECISIONS ANNOUNCED
25 April 2019
As part of the Irish FA’s continuing implementation of Club Licensing policies, the Licensing Committee met on Wednesday 24 April 2019 to consider applications for the award of UEFA, Premiership, Promotion and Championship Licenses for season 2019/20.
In line with the current UEFA, Premiership, Promotion and Championship Licensing Manuals, applicant clubs were assessed in five key areas, namely: Sporting, Infrastructure/Safety, Personnel & Administration, Legal and Financial.
Based on these entirely objective criteria licences were granted/ refused to the following clubs:
UEFA CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Ballymena United FC
Cliftonville FC
Coleraine FC
Crusaders FC
Dungannon Swifts FC (Solitude, Belfast)
Glenavon FC
Glentoran FC
Linfield FC
UEFA CLUB LICENCES REFUSED:
Warrenpoint Town FC
PREMIERSHIP CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Ards FC (Bangor Fuels Arena, Bangor)
Ballymena United FC
Cliftonville FC
Coleraine FC
Crusaders FC
Dungannon Swifts FC
Glenavon FC
Glentoran FC
Institute FC (Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry)
Linfield FC
Newry AFC
Warrenpoint Town FC
PROMOTION CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Ballinamallard United FC
Ballyclare Comrades FC
Carrick Rangers FC
H&W Welders FC (Dixon Park, Ballyclare)
Larne FC
Portadown FC
CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Annagh United FC
Ballinamallard United FC
Ballyclare Comrades FC
Banbridge Town FC
Carrick Rangers FC
Dergview FC
Dundela FC
H&W Welders FC
Knockbreda FC
Larne FC
Limavady United FC
Lisburn Distillery FC
Loughgall FC
Portadown FC
PSNI FC
QUB FC
CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LICENCES REFUSED:
Armagh City FC*
Portstewart FC*
*No documentation submitted beyond initial application form.
Communication of these decisions has already been made to the clubs concerned.
Clubs who have been refused a licence have the right of appeal, in line with 3.2.7. of the Club Licensing manual(s) with any such appeals tentatively scheduled for 9 May 2019.
Club Licences are valid for one season only, namely 2019/20.
The Committee wishes to congratulate those clubs who have been granted a Club Licence and acknowledge the efforts of many key personnel at each club for the time and contributions they have made towards the successful application.
Licensing Committee Chairman, Allen McKinstry commented: "As always, I want to pay tribute to the efforts of the many people working hard behind the scenes at our clubs to ensure successful licensing applications are produced. With Club Licensing now an established part of the football landscape in Northern Ireland, the ongoing nature of the process means that high standards must be consistently maintained.
Even now, the licensing process for this cycle has still not concluded as we continue to work with Ballinamallard United FC to submit its ‘extraordinary’ UEFA Licence application (for non-top flight clubs) to the UEFA Licensing Administration in the days ahead. Whilst the Ballinamallard United FC players will look to create history in the Irish Cup Final, the Ferney Park administrators could also create their own little bit of history if they become the first club to secure a licensing hat-trick with Championship, Promotion and UEFA licences all in one season. The Committee wishes the club well in that process.”
