News

A total of 12 Domestic Club Licences and six Championship Licences have been awarded to NI Football League clubs by the Irish FA for the 2015/16 season.

The existing 12 Danske Bank Premiership clubs each received their Domestic Licence, while Ards, Ballyclare Comrades, Bangor, Carrick Rangers, Larne and Lisburn Distillery were awarded their Championship Licences. 

In line with the current UEFA, Domestic and Championship Club Licensing Manuals, applicant clubs were assessed in five key areas, namely: Sporting, Infrastructure/Safety, Personnel & Administration, Legal and Financial.

DOMESTIC CLUB LICENSES GRANTED:

Ballinamallard United FC

Ballymena United FC

Cliftonville FC

Coleraine FC

Crusaders FC

Dungannon Swifts FC

Glenavon FC

Glentoran FC

Institute FC

Linfield FC

Portadown FC

Warrenpoint Town FC

CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LICENSES GRANTED:

Ards FC (Bangor Fuels Arena, Bangor)

Ballyclare Comrades FC

Bangor FC

Carrick Rangers FC (Seaview, Belfast)

Larne FC (Dixon Park, Ballyclare)

Lisburn Distillery FC (Donegal Celtic Park, Belfast)

In addition to the above, the following clubs also received their UEFA Club Licence:

Ballinamallard United FC (Shamrock Park, Portadown)

Ballymena United FC (Mourneview Park, Belfast)

Cliftonville FC

Coleraine FC

Crusaders FC (Solitude, Belfast)

Glenavon FC

Glentoran FC

Linfield FC

Portadown FC

Licensing Committee Chairman, Allen McKinstry said:

“As each season passes we are seeing an ever improving level of financial stability within our clubs, the continued expansion of youth development set-ups, improved facilities and more appropriately qualified club personnel across a variety of positions. Whilst it is the clubs who deserve huge credit for the strides that have been made, the Licensing Committee is determined to ensure that the club licensing process continues to act as a catalyst for positive change within domestic football.

It is therefore particularly pleasing to see a record number of Championship Licences awarded and encouraging to see a number of other Championship clubs having made strong submissions. The number of Championship clubs having engaged in the process during this cycle bodes well for the implementation of the NI Football League restructure proposals which will see the introduction of mandatory licensing to award licences for season 2016-17, coinciding with the creation of a second senior tier of football in Northern Ireland.”