NI Football Fund: 'North west has been shafted again'

Emma Doherty pictured with her daughter Ellen at an Institute match

Some football fans in the north west have been left "angry" and "want answers" after several local clubs failed to progress under the Northern Ireland Football Fund.

Derry City, Institute, Coleraine, and Limavady United were among the clubs not to progress in the process to receive a share of the £36.2m in funding.

Derry City fan Carmel McConnellogue said both Candystripes and Institute supporters were incredibly disappointed and wanted to know why their applications had been rejected.

The Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, said he fully appreciated the concerns that exist in the north west but denied that the decisions had anything to do with geography or his own view.

Of the 41 clubs that applied, 20 will now go through to the next stage

The funding was first announced in 2011 and, after a 14-year delay, the Stormont Executive confirmed in January that clubs could apply for a share of the £36.2m pot.

While the £36.2m of money announced in 2011 is guaranteed, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said the 20 successful projects had a total estimated cost of "just over £82m", and "estimated total project costs" came to £98m.

Dergview FC in Castelderg, County Tyrone, and Dungganon Swifts were among the clubs to be successful in the middle tier of funding, which consisted of applications between £1.5m and £6m.

Lyons said the unsuccessful clubs should not lose hope.

"I fully understand the frustration and anger that many people are feeling," Lyons told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show.

"It was based purely on being able to identify what your needs were and the benefits you can bring as well.

"I want to see that regional balance as well and that's why I am seeking more funding but I want to be very clear, this was not based on geography at all."

NIFL chief executive Gerard Lawlor, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Irish Football Association (IFA) president Conrad Kirkwood pictured at the Northern Ireland Football Fund announcement

He insisted no one was getting "kicked out" of the process.

"This will be an ongoing, rolling programme of investment and I want them to be prepared and ready for the next stage.

"So, we will provide all of the help and support that we can to those moving forward and those who are not.

"And it's really important to say I am not saying no to anyone - just not yet."

'Shocking and disgraceful'

But fans of the unsuccessful teams vented their anger and frustration on Friday, a day after the announcement was made.

"Not just myself, but across the board, all the supporters of Derry City and 'Stute are very disappointed," Carmel McConnellogue told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Friday.

"I think they should've got something from the pot - they didn't have to get huge amounts, but something at least."

She said Derry City was in "desperate need" of a new pitch, a new floodlight system, and that funding could have helped with the completion of outstanding work on several projects.

Derry City fan Carmel McConnellogue, who is part of the Pride of the Northside supporters' club, says she is disappointed that her club and Institute have missed out on funding

Derry City were seeking about £11.8m to help cover the completion of the Mark Farren Stand, "as well as other improvements" at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium.

In a statement on Thursday, Derry City said they had noted the announcement from the minister and would take time to reflect and discuss their options.

'Can't believe Stute didn't get anything'

Ms McConnellogue said she was disappointed that her own team did not progress to the next round of the funding process, but found it "baffling" that Institute was overlooked.

"I can't believe 'Stute didn't get anything when they are trying to build a new stadium over in Drumahoe," she said.

"They probably needed the money more than we do."

Institute chairman Bill Anderson said they had hoped an application for more than £6m in funding would have helped them return to the Waterside with a proposed new stadium at Clooney Park West.

Now competing in the NIFL Championship, Institute currently play their home matches at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Demolition work is under way at their former ground, the Riverside Stadium in Drumahoe, County Londonderry.

The club was forced to vacate the stadium after severe flooding in 2017, and hopes of a return were ended by an infestation of Japanese knotweed.

Speaking following the announcement on Thursday, club chairman Bill Anderson said he was in the "depths of despair" and "devastated for the club, the supporters and the Waterside".

Mr Anderson said it would "take a while to process and get our heads around".

Contractors are currently clearing the former Riverside Stadium, where Institute FC once played their home games

Emma Doherty has been an Institute fan for at least 14 years and said the announcement was" just another kick in the teeth".

She said there was "a lot of hope and a lot of fans relying on that funding" to help the club realise their dream of moving to the new stadium in the Waterside.

"The club is obviously struggling not having a home of their own - I do genuinely believe not having our own ground is holding us back," Emma said.

"The Riverside Stadium is obviously currently being demolished and we are in desperate need to have that stadium.

"It's not even just a stadium - it would be a community hub for the Waterside, a place where fans and the community can gather again to enjoy match days."

Ms Doherty said the club seemed to be continually fighting an uphill battle and she was very worried about its future.

Coleraine fans Helen Wilkinson and her son, James Wilkinson [far right], along with Callum West and Graham Kennedy say they are disappointed to miss out on funding

Reacting to the announcement on Thursday, Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins, who is a former Derry City manager, said: "Geographically, for me, the north west has been shafted again."

Coleraine fan Helen Wilkinson said she was very surprised to hear that the Bannsiders had not progressed with their funding application.

"Even looking beyond Coleraine, I struggle to see how so many clubs in the north west, especially with the likes of Institute, weren't successful with their proposals for funding," she said.

"Unfortunately, the issue goes beyond Coleraine and, once again, our region, the north west, which has given so much to football in Northern Ireland, has been overlooked."

She said the youth football tournaments, SuperCupNI and the Foyle Cup, were among the events that benefitted the north west region.

Lauren Hayes and her father, Trevor, are huge Coleraine fans

Football runs in the blood for Coleraine fan Lauren Hayes, who said she was "incredibly disappointed" at the decision.

She attends games with her father Trevor and her daughter Polly plays as a youth goalkeeper.

Ms Hayes believes football clubs like Coleraine need as much investment as possible to encourage the next generation of footballers, like her daughter, to play and train in the best facilities.

In a statement, Coleraine FC said they noted with "deep disappointment that our application to the NI Football Fund has not progressed".