Nineteen clubs started the process in May 2007 and in line with the current UEFA and Domestic Club Licensing manuals, were assessed in five key areas, namely: Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel & Administration, Legal and Financial.

The Committee wishes to re-emphasise that Domestic Club Licensing Infrastructure criterion I.02 was suspended for the 2008/09 season by the IFA Executive Committee on 28 February 2008. At that time it had become clear that the delay in the release of funds from the Soccer Strategies Facilities Funding Programme would directly impact on the ability of the vast majority of clubs to satisfy the ground criteria elements (particularly floodlighting) by the 31 March 2008 deadline.

Based on these entirely objective criteria licences were granted / refused to the following clubs:

UEFA CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:

• Ballymena United FC
• Cliftonville FC (Mourneview Park, Lurgan)
• Glentoran FC (Mourneview Park, Lurgan)
• Linfield FC
• Lisburn Distillery FC (Mourneview Park, Lurgan)
• Portadown FC (Mourneview Park, Lurgan)

UEFA CLUB LICENCES REFUSED:

• Armagh City FC
• Crusaders FC
• Donegal Celtic FC
• Dungannon Swifts FC
• Glenavon FC
• Institute FC
• Larne FC
• Limavady United FC
• Newry City FC

UEFA CLUB LICENCE - NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY:

• Coleraine FC

DOMESTIC CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:

• Ballymena United FC
• Bangor FC
• Cliftonville FC (Donegal Celtic Park, Suffolk Road, Belfast)
• Coleraine FC
• Crusaders FC
• Donegal Celtic FC
• Dungannon Swifts FC
• Glenavon FC
• Glentoran FC
• Institute FC
• Linfield FC
• Lisburn Distillery FC
• Newry City FC
• Portadown FC

DOMESTIC CLUB LICENCES REFUSED:

• Armagh City FC
• Ballymoney United FC
• Carrick Rangers FC
• Larne FC
• Limavady United FC

Communication of these decisions has already been made to the clubs concerned.

Club Licences are valid for one season only, namely 2008/09.

The Committee wishes to congratulate those clubs who have been granted a Club Licence and recognise that others will be disappointed at being refused. The Committee would however urge such clubs to work towards meeting the required standards in future seasons and acknowledge the efforts they have made to date.

Lisburn Distillery FC, Cliftonville FC and Glentoran FC have nominated Mourneview Park, Lurgan as their stadium for UEFA matches as their own stadiums do not currently meet the UEFA Infrastructure regulations to host European football. Should any of these stadiums be brought up to UEFA standard prior to 2008/09 UEFA games taking place, the potential for a switch to their 'home' stadium exists.

The Committee are mindful of the possibility that several clubs could be utilising a single stadium to stage their UEFA matches and the Club Licensing Administration have already had discussion with the UEFA administration in this regard as this is not a new phenomenon within UEFA. The clubs in question have been advised of these discussions.

In addition, Cliftonville FC have nominated Donegal Celtic Park, Suffolk Road as their home stadium for Domestic games in the event that construction on the new stand and changing room complex at Solitude is not completed in time for the commencement of the 2008/09 season. Once construction is completed at Solitude and the appropriate safety certificates issued, the stadium will immediately be able to host matches.

None of the stadium sharing arrangements put in place for Club Licensing reasons shall have an impact on the IFAP Invitational League scoring process. All clubs have been scored against their own stadium.

Clubs who have been refused a club license have the right of appeal, as per the Club Licensing manuals, and any such appeals shall be heard on Thursday 8 May 2008.

Club Licensing and Facilities Manager, David McVeigh commented, "This has been a significant positive step forward for many clubs who have both documented areas of success within their club and also addressed key areas of need. Licensing is clearly recognisable as a tool for assisting clubs to improve from within".