IFA Submits Planning Application for National Football Centre
A concept image of the proposed site at Galgorm was released by the Irish Football Association (IFA) in February 2025.
The Irish FA has officially submitted a full planning application to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the development of its National Football Centre located in Galgorm, near Ballymena.
Situated on a 50-acre site outside Cullybackey, the new facility is planned to feature world-class pitches alongside state-of-the-art training amenities.
The governing body had previously indicated an anticipated opening date for the facility in 2028.
In a statement issued on Monday, the IFA expressed their hope that
"the landmark project will inspire the next generation of footballers and provide a platform for excellence at every level of the game".
They further stated their ambition for the training centre to become
"the beating heart of Northern Ireland's football community, supporting both elite and grassroots players, as well as some of the charitable and community activities of the Irish FA Foundation".
The submission of the planning application follows earlier stages of the process, which included the launch of the long-awaited project last year, the submission of the Proposal of Application Notice to the Council, and subsequent pre-application community consultation.
The association clarified that in addition to serving the top tiers of the sport, including international teams, the wider football community will also benefit from the development plans.
"As well as serving the elite game, there is an inclusion of a community pitch as part of the development which will help address the growing demand for pitch capacity in the wider area,"the IFA stated.
Irish FA Technical Director Aaron Hughes commented on the significance of the project, saying
"We remain one of a small number of UEFA nations without its own national football centre.
This facility will give us somewhere we can call home, which allows us to raise standards, build our culture, and showcase our identity. It will give young boys and girls the opportunity to literally follow in the footsteps of their heroes, as they aspire to one day wear the green shirt.
And, crucially, it will give our national teams', senior to underage, men's, women's, boys, and girls, an elite facility to train, prepare and compete on the European and world stage."
