Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood has welcomed the latest milestone in the Northern Ireland Football Fund.
Earlier today Communities Minister Gordon Lyons revealed details of the pilot stage of the Grassroots Facilities Programme.
The pilot will be allocated an indicative budget of £9million with the first awards payable to applicants as early as financial year 2026/2027. Applicants can apply for funding awards between £500,000 and £1.5million.
The Irish FA President said: “The facilities strand is a central pillar of the Irish Football Association’s ‘Roadmap for Football’ strategy, reflecting our long-term commitment to strengthening the foundations of the game.
“We therefore welcome this announcement of £9m which represents a significant boost for clubs and communities across the country and complements the investment being delivered by the Irish FA through the DCMS Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund, which has seen £9.9m invested since 2021 with a total of £12.6m by 2027.
“Investment at grassroots level is vital, not only in improving playing environments but in enabling football to continue making a meaningful difference within communities throughout Northern Ireland.
“This funding will help enhance local infrastructure, create more accessible opportunities and further harness the power of football to bring people from different backgrounds together.”
The Communities Minister announced the launch of the pilot during a visit to Wellington Rec FC in Larne.
He said: “I am pleased to launch the first call for applications to the Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot to begin addressing the urgent need for improved facilities at this level.
“The £9million of funding to kick-start this pilot phase is another major investment that will support six projects and start delivering the modern facilities our communities deserve.
“I know this sector needs significantly more investment, and I am under no doubt about the scale of the challenge. This pilot is an important start.”
He revealed Department for Communities officials will deliver a series of information sessions to assist clubs with preparing their applications.
The Minister continued: “This scheme reflects the value I place on grassroots football and the role it plays in our communities. There are almost 600 grassroots football clubs operating across the country, and I have seen first-hand on visits to clubs both large and small the contribution they make.
“Whether you play, coach, volunteer or cheer from the sidelines, grassroots football brings people together, supports health and wellbeing and strengthens our local communities.
“This pilot will start to directly address the significant improvements required in grassroots facilities. Let’s begin transforming facilities now and build some much-needed momentum.”
Applications are open now. For more information and details of how to apply, visit: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/northern-ireland-football-fund
Image: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons (centre) at the launch of the Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Scheme with players and the chairman of Wellington Rec FC, (from left) Royce Balmer, Rachael-Anne Seymour, Kenny Thompson (chairman) and Ben Tilney.
