Coleraine Football Club's bid for £16m of funding to aid the redevelopment of The Showgrounds has been highlighted in the House of Lords.
In August the Bannsiders board submitted an application for funds to the UK Government’s “Levelling Up Fund“ with the proposal based around developing the Ballycastle Road venue as the Northwest Regional Stadium.
The development would include new stands at the south side next the railway track and the replacement of the Jack Doherty stand increasing the capacity to 8,000, incorporating provisions for player development, hospitality, media as well as safe modern spectator amenities.
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Facilities would also include a community pitch to meet the growing demand from the local groups.
The Government fund allows for applications of up to £20m for wellbeing, regeneration or culture and £50 m transport projects. In total just over £150 million is set aside for Northern Ireland of which £50 million was committed in the first round and £100 million is available in this call.
The project has received backing across the political parties, and in the House of Lords on Tuesday Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, to "take an active interest" in the Bannsiders' bid.
"I was delighted to hear the Chancellor confirm that he intends to 'proceed with round 2 of the levelling-up fund, at least matching the £1.7 billion value of round 1," said Lord Rogan.
"I am delighted that Northern Ireland is very much part of this bidding process, with at least 3% of the £4.8 billion capital fund due to be allocated to bids in the Province, subject, according to the official guideline, to a suitable number of high-quality bids being submitted.
"On a day when the minds of many in this House will be at least partially focused on a certain international football match in Qatar, I bring good news for Ministers about a high-quality levelling-up fund bid relating to local football in Northern Ireland.
"Earlier this month, I was invited to visit Coleraine Football Club, on the stunning Causeway Coast, to hear more about its bid to redevelop its home ground, which is located between two wards within the top 10% most deprived areas of Northern Ireland.
"The planned works include a vibrant community hub, with meeting rooms for community events and classrooms for educational programmes. There will also be a 3G community training pitch with floodlighting, which will provide a real boost to youth football, both male and female.
"I was pleased to see that the club’s application has attracted the support of all sides—I stress, all sides—and at every level of community, business, political and sporting life in the north-west of the Province, as well as from several former Northern Ireland Secretaries of State and other distinguished parliamentarians.
"I urge the Minister to take an active interest in Coleraine Football Club’s bid, because it surely represents what the Government’s levelling-up agenda is all about."
Causeway Coast and Glens Council have partnered with Coleraine FC as part of the application process, which is also being heavily backed by the local MP Gregory Campbell at Westminster.
“The club have consulted widely and gained support from across the political spectrum in its preparation to become spade ready for the Levelling Up Fund and to meet the growing demand from local footballing community,” said Coleraine FC chairman Colin McKendry.
“The investment would enable the IFA to bring high profile football matches out of Belfast and spread the interest across the province.”
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