UEFA Licence holders: Billy Bell receives Ballymena United's UEFA Licence (far right).

In 2004 the Irish Football Association in corporation with UEFA set out a new regulation that any Irish League team competing in Europe would need a UEFA Club Licence.

The UEFA Licence certifies that clubs are capable in five individual criteria; namely Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel and Administration, Legal and Financial. This is aimed at improving the structure and standard of football clubs in Northern Ireland.

Ironically, Ballymena United were the first team to benefit from the UEFA Licencing scheme, as in 2003/04 - fourth place Lisburn Distillery were without a licence allowing the Sky Blues to take their place in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

In fact, Ballymena United are one of only three teams in Northern Ireland to obtain a Licence in each of the four years in which they have been issued, alongside Linfield and Glentoran.

The club put a great deal of effort and commitment into their application and must be congratulated on their efforts. This is the fourth year the IFA has awarded UEFA Club Licences.

A monetary award (£1,000) has been made in conjunction with the licence to recognise the effort required by clubs to attain the Licence.

Chairman of the Club Licensing Committee Mr Allen McKinstry said: “Myself and all the members are encouraged by the engagement of clubs within the UEFA Club Licensing Scheme in the past season even though the actual number of licences awarded has decreased this year.

“With the advent of Domestic Club Licensing there will no doubt be a greater drive and determination from clubs to meet the requirements and the Club Licensing Committee and administration shall do all we can to assist clubs in this respect.”

IFA Chief Executive Mr Howard Wells added: “The Club Licensing Scheme, both for UEFA and Domestic competition, continues to play an integral part of our future plans for club development. A number of the licensing principles have formed the basis of our work in relation to the establishment of a new league structure within Northern Ireland and this shows the relevance of these principles to the improvement of all aspects of club football.”