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Derry City FC hoping to benefit from 'once in a lifetime' football investment fund
Club confident that they will benefit from 'The Northern Ireland Football Fund', which will spread £36.2 million around local clubs
Work is ongoing at the Brandywell. Pic by Ramsey Cardy/ Sportsfile
Reporter:
Gary Ferry
22 May 2024 5:06 PM
Derry City FC is confident that the club will benefit from 'The Northern Ireland Football Fund', which will spread £36.2 million around clubs in what has been described as a 'once in a lifetime' investment in the local game.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has unveiled a long-term programme of investment in local footballing facilities at all levels of the game.
Addressing representatives from football clubs from across Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, the Minister set out his vision for The Northern Ireland Football Fund, formerly the Sub Regional Stadia Programme for Football.
He said: “I am pleased to give Ministerial approval to The Northern Ireland Football Fund and to unlock for the first time this Executive commitment to modernising footballing facilities at every level in communities across Northern Ireland.
“I am seizing this once in a lifetime opportunity to transform the game locally. For players at performance and grassroots level I want to see better facilities. I want to see improved accessibility for disadvantaged and under-represented groups, both as participants and supporters. I want fans now, and in the future, to have the best experience at their local club. And looking forward, I want to foster our footballing stars of the future with the creation of a National Training Centre.
“I am committed to fully utilising the £36.2 million and to seeking to sustain the Fund with further investment from the Executive, from within the football sector and from across local government.”
The Fund will take a phased approach to delivery across its three strands. The club investment strand will open for applications in this financial year and first funding awards to grassroots clubs will also begin roll out.
The Minister added: “I expect the first projects to receive letters of offer from my Department within this financial year and to start spending their award in the 2025/ 2026 financial year. This will begin a rolling programme of awards and project delivery.
“Work is progressing at pace on a National Training Centre for Football to host elite training for our national men’s, women’s and youth teams and to drive skills for people involved at all levels of the game. I will be saying more on this in coming weeks.”
Minister Lyons continued: “Over the last 100 days, I have visited clubs and community football facilities across Northern Ireland. I recognise the passion and benefits this sport brings to so many people.
“I know the long delay has been a source of frustration for clubs and local communities.
“I am committed to delivering long-term investment in football and I am determined to secure additional funding in future years to make this happen. I look forward to continuing to work with clubs, the Irish FA and the Northern Ireland Football League to ensure clubs are accessible with high quality facilities, welcoming to all and that we secure a sustainable footballing future for the generations to come.”
While the beneficiaries of the funding will not be revealed for a few days yet, Derry City expects to be on the list, and to receive money which will go towards the completion of phase 2 of the Mark Farren Stand.
'Essential'
City manager Ruaidhri Higgins believes an upgraded Brandywell is essential for a club of Derry City's size.
“I think if you look at the stadium on Monday night (Tallaght) and the pitch, that's the benchmark for everyone in the country in terms of facilities,” he said. “Without a doubt it would improve the league as a whole. We all want to be involved in an attractive league. I think there's a lot to be proud of in this league as well. I think there's been great work done here so far there's more to come. And I think when this place is full and rocking, if it extends and gets bigger, it'll only help us and improve the club.”
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