Gerard Lawlor (far left) at the NI Football Fund reveal at the Blanchflower Stadium
Northern Ireland Football League chief executive Gerard Lawlor has insisted today was ‘a good day for football’ despite a mixed reaction to the announcement by Sports Minister Gordon Lyons revealing which clubs were in line for government money through the NI Football Fund.
Glentoran and Cliftonville were the big winners being placed in the £6million plus bracket for public finance to improve The Oval and Solitude, but there was disappointment for other Irish League clubs – including Coleraine and Portadown, plus Ards and Institute – who were hoping for money to build their own ground.