NIFL member clubs have received notification of their UEFA, Premiership, Promotion and Championship licensing awards for season 2022/23 from the Irish FA.

In line with the current UEFA, Premiership, Promotion and Championship licensing manuals, applicant clubs were assessed in five key areas: sporting, infrastructure/safety, personnel and administration, legal, and financial.

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

UEFA CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Ballymena United FC
Cliftonville FC
Coleraine FC
Crusaders FC
Dungannon Swifts FC
Glenavon FC
Glentoran FC
Larne FC
Linfield FC
Portadown FC
Warrenpoint Town FC

UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Glentoran (Women) FC

PREMIERSHIP CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Ballymena United FC
Carrick Rangers FC
Cliftonville FC
Coleraine FC
Crusaders FC
Dungannon Swifts FC
Glenavon FC
Glentoran FC
Larne FC
Linfield FC
Portadown FC
Warrenpoint Town FC

PROMOTION CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Annagh United FC (Coleraine Showgrounds, Coleraine)
Ards FC (Bangor Fuels Arena, Bangor)
Ballinamallard United FC
Ballyclare Comrades FC
Institute FC (Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry)
H&W Welders FC
Loughgall FC (Stangmore Park, Dungannon)
Newry City AFC

CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
Annagh United FC
Ards FC (Bangor Fuels Arena, Bangor)
Armagh City FC
Ballinamallard United FC
Ballyclare Comrades FC
Banbridge Town FC
Bangor FC
Dergview FC
Dollingstown FC
Dundela FC
H&W Welders FC
Institute FC (Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry)
Knockbreda FC
Limavady United FC
Lisburn Distillery FC
Loughgall FC
Moyola Park AFC
Newington FC (Solitude, Belfast)
Newry City AFC
Portstewart FC
PSNI FC (The Dub, Upper Malone, Belfast)
QUB AFC
Tobermore United FC

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

Club licences are valid for one season only, namely 2022-23.

Irish FA Licensing Committee chairman Allen McKinstry said: "As always I want to pay tribute to the work that has gone on behind the scenes at all of our clubs over recent months to ensure licensing applications are successful.

“Club Licensing is now widely regarded as a modern performance standard and an indicator of the state of club football in a country. Consequently the Licensing Committee remains committed to developing, supporting and implementing standards that will continue to improve the level of professionalism across our game.”

Irish FA Club Licensing Manager Stacey Moffett added: “Even though Club Licensing is a well established part of the football landscape within the men’s game in Northern Ireland, this summer will see the rollout of the new UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations (Edition 2022) which will again continue to build on the work of the Club Licensing processes to date.

“At the same time work is also now under way within the Irish FA to expand the licensing process into the women’s domestic game in Northern Ireland to act as a further catalyst for positive change in providing a framework for women’s clubs to develop both on and off the pitch. We look forward to continuing to support all clubs on the journey ahead.”