Shadow Minister visits The Showgrounds

COLERAINE FC was pleased to welcome Tonia Antoniazzi MP to The Showgrounds for a special meeting last week…

Tonia Antoniazzi MP, The Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland, took time out of her busy schedule to make good on her promise made in the build up to the submission of the Levelling Up Fund application in October 2022, to one day visit the club and see the facilities she had read about in the impressive submission.

On Friday. February 3, Tonia met representatives of the Board of Coleraine Football Club and members of the Development Committee at The Showgrounds, to get feedback on the application and also to listen on future plans the club have in place to develop the facilities at The Showgrounds.

The Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary saw first-hand how the club’s urban location between two areas of high deprivation is a real asset to the town.

Coming from a sporting background, playing international rugby for Wales, she is familiar with the social return on investment sports clubs bring to their communities.

The club explained whilst they were deeply disappointed with the outcome of the Levelling Up Fund, the process had been rewarding by positioning the club very well for further funding.

Ms Antoniazzi congratulated all involved with the club with their efforts to date and undertook to look into the decision making process of the Levelling Up round two and encourage the club to make an application to round three.

She concluded by saying she would wear her Coleraine Football Club scarf with pride in Westminster and watch out for the club’s future results.

Colin McKendry, Club Chairman, thanked her for her support of Coleraine Football Club and assured her that the club would continue to pursue its funding aspiration to further develop The Showgrounds in advance of its 100th anniversary in 2027.