Gordon Lyons (Northern Ireland’s Minister for Communities and Sports Minister) has released details on the funding for football infrastructure through the Northern Ireland Football Fund. The announcement was made today, September 11, 2025, during a live event, where he outlined which clubs will progress to the next stage of funding allocation from the £36.2 million pot (originally earmarked in 2011 under the Sub-Regional Stadia Programme).

This follows the fund’s initial launch in May 2024 and an application process that saw 38 clubs request nearly £164 million in total, far exceeding the available amount.

The funding is divided into three tiers based on the scale of the projects, with 20 clubs selected to advance. Notably, this is the first of three planned announcements; future ones will cover grassroots projects (with applications invited soon and outcomes expected before the end of the financial year) and a new National Football Centre at Galgorm.

Lyons acknowledged that some clubs would be disappointed but emphasized “still hope” for unsuccessful applicants through potential additional funding sources like borrowing, private sector contributions, or further government support.

He also blamed past delays on Sinn Féin, calling them “shameful,” and highlighted the independent verification of the scoring process for fairness.

Here’s a breakdown of the selected clubs by tier (specific amounts per club were not detailed beyond the tier ranges, but the overall fund aims to modernize grounds and facilities):

Prominent clubs not selected include Derry City, Coleraine, Ards, Institute, and Portadown. Approx 15/85 % split between communities where majority of clubs have protestant affiliations generally.

Lyons stated that the funds are intended to make a “tangible difference” and that construction could begin once final approvals are secured, though no exact timelines for disbursement were provided.