GLENAVON’S BID FOR STADIUM FUNDING MOVES TO NEXT STAGE
The Department for Communities has placed Glenavon’s bid to secure support from the Northern Ireland Football Fund for the building of a new dressing room complex and community hub “in the first cohort of projects to progress to the next stage” of the funding process.
“We are delighted to have climbed the first hurdle,” said chairman Stephen Best. “A lot of effort and considerable expenditure went into ensuring that we put forward the strongest possible case. The application was obviously well received. Now we wait to see if we are successful in securing the grant aid we need.”
Stephen also acknowledged the far-sighted approach of the Department for Communities. “We appreciate the work done by the Minister, Gordon Lyons, and his staff to support football in Northern Ireland,” he added. “This initiative will undoubtedly help to grow the game.”
Glenavon’s plan is to build a new suite of dressing rooms, a conference room and a range of other facilities. Its aim is to enhance the match day experience for players, match officials and supporters and further strengthen links with the local community.
The Northern Ireland Football Fund is the successor of the Sub Regional Stadia Programme established by the Department for Communities some fifteen years ago. For a range of reasons, it had not been possible to access its original allocation of £36.2 million until recently. It is understood that 37 clubs submitted applications in 2025. Twenty have been earmarked for possible support. These have been sifted into three tiers – 1) up to £1.5 million; 2) £1.5 million to 6 million; and 3) over £6 million. Glenavon has been placed in tier two.
