Derry City to lobby for Stormont funding
Derry City are to lobby officials at Stormont tomorrow to grant them funding for the redevelopment of their stadium.
The club is seeking £5m (€6.24m) from the Stormont Executive and €6.24m from the Irish Government as part of a £15m (€18.6m) redevelopment plan of the Brandywell.
The Brandywell currently has a 7,700 capacity but club officials argue the ground is not fit for purpose.
They would like a new 8,000 capacity stadium, which they claim would also regenerate the surrounding area.
Even though Derry City plays in the Republic of Ireland, club officials argue they should be given Stormont funds because they represent Northern Ireland in the league, they participate in the cross-border Setanta Cup and they pay VAT on their gate receipts.
The club has been backed by SDLP leader and Foyle MP Mark Durkan and the party’s sports spokesperson Pat Ramsey who said the Brandywell was a key sporting facility in his constituency.
“It is in bad need of redevelopment and we have been lobbying hard on both sides of the border for adequate funding to provide for a state-of-the-art stadium on the original site,” the Foyle MLA said.
“The Brandywell area of Derry is an area of social and economic deprivation and redevelopment of the stadium would undoubtedly bring investment and jobs into the area.
“It would also go a long way in inspiring our young people to participate in sport and would instil pride in the local community.
“I and my party have been campaigning long and hard on this issue and I hope that Monday’s lobby will help bring local Ministers on board and to commit to providing funding for this key sporting facility.”
