Coleraine FC applies for £10 million stadium funding

Coleraine Football Club has applied for more than £10 million from a new £36.2 million fund for stadium improvements in Northern Ireland. The fund is designed to help upgrade facilities for both men's and women's clubs. The deadline for applications was Friday, with 41 clubs eligible to apply. Coleraine FC wants a significant portion of this fund to develop their home ground, The Showgrounds. They aim to turn it into a modern "footballing hub for the North West." Club officials expressed that without redevelopment, they may lose their home within the next five to ten years. Other clubs like Glentoran, Cliftonville, and Derry City are also expected to have applied for funding. The Department for Communities will announce decisions on funding allocations this summer. To qualify for funds, clubs must show they can contribute a minimum of 5% of project costs. For venues owned by councils, this requirement increases to 40%. Derry City recently received approval for a long-term lease on their ground to support their funding bid. While £36.2 million is available in total, some of the money may go to grassroots football and a planned national training center. The fund began in 2011 and was previously known as the Sub-Regional Stadia Programme. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons noted that the current funds are just a start, as around £200 million is really needed to meet facility standards. The Department for Communities is still reviewing the applications and has not yet disclosed how many clubs applied for funding.