- BY Kevin Barry BSc(Hons) MRICS
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The funding from the Northern Ireland Football Fund, as announced on September 11, 2025, is allocated across 20 clubs in various geographical regions of Northern Ireland.
While exact per-club amounts haven’t been specified (only tier ranges: Tier 3 >£6m, Tier 2 £1.5m-£6m, Tier 1 <£1.5m), the distribution can be analyzed by traditional county lines as a proxy for geography.
This reflects broader patterns, with more clubs (and thus potential funding) concentrated in the east and mid-regions, which are historically more Unionist-leaning, compared to the west and northwest, which are more Nationalist-leaning.Northern Ireland’s political landscape is divided along Unionist (predominantly Protestant, favoring remaining in the UK) and Nationalist (predominantly Catholic, favoring a united Ireland) lines, often correlating with geography:
- Eastern areas (e.g., Antrim, Down) are mostly Unionist.
- Belfast is mixed, with North and West more Nationalist, East and South more Unionist.
- Mid/southern areas (e.g., Armagh) are mixed but lean Unionist in parts.
- Western areas (e.g., Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry/Londonderry) are more Nationalist, with Derry notably absent from funding.
No clubs from County Londonderry/Derry received funding, which has fueled criticism of regional neglect, particularly in Nationalist-stronghold areas like the North West. The overall split shows 75% of clubs (15 out of 20) in predominantly Unionist or mixed-Unionist counties (Antrim, Down, Belfast, Armagh), versus 25% (5) in more Nationalist counties (Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Newry in Down, which is a Nationalist enclave despite the county’s Unionist lean).
Here’s a breakdown by county, including club count, tiers, and political notes. Estimated funding proportions are rough, assuming midpoints (Tier 1: £0.75m, Tier 2: £3.75m, Tier 3: £8m) for illustration—actual totals will fit within the £36.2m fund after final approvals, and these estimates sum to ~£72m before scaling.
| County/Region | Political Landscape | Clubs (Count) | Tiers | Est. Funding Share (Rough) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast (3 clubs, 15%) | Mixed (Unionist east/south, Nationalist north/west) | Cliftonville (Tier 3), Glentoran (Tier 3), Queen’s University (Tier 1) | 2 Tier 3, 1 Tier 1 | ~£16.75m (23%) | Balanced tiers but high-value; Cliftonville in Nationalist North Belfast, others in Unionist areas. |
| County Antrim (6 clubs, 30%) | Predominantly Unionist | Ballymena United (Tier 2), Carrick Rangers (Tier 2), Larne (Tier 2), Lisburn Rangers (Tier 2), Ballymacash Sports Academy (Tier 1), Lisburn Distillery (Tier 1) | 4 Tier 2, 2 Tier 1 | ~£16.5m (23%) | Heavy concentration in east; all clubs historically Protestant/Unionist-affiliated. Lisburn area (south Antrim) is Unionist-leaning. |
| County Down (4 clubs, 20%) | Predominantly Unionist | Banbridge Town (Tier 2), Bangor (Tier 2), Newry City (Tier 2), Rathfriland Rangers (Tier 1) | 3 Tier 2, 1 Tier 1 | ~£12m (17%) | Eastern focus; Newry is a Nationalist enclave despite county’s Unionist majority, and it’s one of the few Catholic-affiliated clubs funded. |
| County Armagh (4 clubs, 20%) | Mixed (Unionist north, Nationalist south) | Glenavon (Tier 2), Loughgall (Tier 2), Oxford Sunnyside (Tier 2), Armagh City (Tier 1) | 3 Tier 2, 1 Tier 1 | ~£12m (17%) | Mid-Ulster; clubs mostly in Unionist-leaning areas like Lurgan and Loughgall. |
| County Tyrone (2 clubs, 10%) | Predominantly Nationalist | Dergview (Tier 2), Dungannon Swifts (Tier 2) | 2 Tier 2 | ~£7.5m (10%) | Western; Dergview (Castlederg) in a Nationalist area, Dungannon mixed but club Protestant-affiliated. |
| County Fermanagh (1 club, 5%) | Predominantly Nationalist | Ballinamallard United (Tier 2) | 1 Tier 2 | ~£3.75m (5%) | Far west; limited representation, aligning with broader underfunding critiques for Nationalist regions. |
| County Londonderry/Derry (0 clubs, 0%) | Predominantly Nationalist | None | N/A | £0 | Notable exclusion (e.g., Institute, Coleraine not selected); has sparked regional bias concerns. |
This distribution highlights a skew toward eastern and central Unionist-leaning areas, which received ~63% of clubs (13 out of 20) and an estimated ~63% of illustrative funding. Western Nationalist areas (Tyrone, Fermanagh) got only 15% of clubs and ~15% estimated funding, with no allocation to Derry—echoing reactions about potential sectarian or regional imbalances in the process.
The Irish FA and Minister Lyons have defended the independent scoring, but calls persist for additional funds to address gaps, especially ahead of UEFA Euro 2028. Even closer are local elections around May 2027.