Communities Minister hopes £9 million funding for grassroots football facilities is Northern Ireland is 'just the start'
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says he wants “to get things done” after unveiling a £9 million pilot scheme to enhance grassroots football facilities throughout Northern Ireland.
The investment represents the next phase of the Northern Ireland Football Fund, with the pilot scheme of the Grassroots Facilities Programme set to back six projects in its first round.
Funding awards between £500,000 and £1.5 million are up for grabs, with the first funds being paid to successful applicants as early as financial year 2026/2027.
Up to six applicants will be successful overall, across two different streams, with Mr Lyons saying the funding will help to “make a difference” in addressing the province’s urgent need for improved facilities.
He said: “We know there's a huge demand in Northern Ireland at grassroots level and this is just the start.
"This will be a pilot programme that will allow us to find out what works, what doesn't work and what can be improved.
"So really excited to get this out and be able to start making a difference.
"I've allocated £9 million from within my own capital budget this year and I think that's really important that we have that certainty that that is there but we know the need is much greater and that will need to be looked at then moving forward.
"We haven't had sufficient investment in football and that's why we need to start to change that.”
Mr Lyons said his officials will be doing all they can to assist clubs with preparing their applications and how he hopes more funding will be made available.
“We expect this all to be done in the next financial year, so financial year 26/27,” he added.
"I want to see delivery on the ground, I want to get on with things and I want to get things done.
"We want to help people, we want to make sure that people are getting the support they need and that's why we have the team here on hand to help people and that will be the same throughout the application process.
"I want to make sure that everybody's need is met and that's really really important for me and I'm hoping that this will just be the start and we will have more money and be able to allocate even more in the future.”