Richhill AFC has moved to “provide additional context” around a proposed £30,000 public contribution toward its new 3G pitch, after a newspaper article raised questions about how the funding was pursued and documented by the Department of Education.
In a detailed statement, club chairman Neil Megaw stressed that Richhill AFC has not received any of the suggested £30,000 and said the project is already delivering “lasting educational and community benefits” for schools and local organisations.
The Belfast Telegraph reported that Education Minister Paul Givan had wanted £30,000 to be allocated to the Co Armagh club at a time when school buildings face a major maintenance backlog. The paper also revealed that the Department of Education pushed the Education Authority (EA) to find a mechanism to make the payment, and that no records were kept of key calls and meetings linked to the proposal.
Addressing local concerns, Richhill AFC said: “For absolute clarity, Richhill AFC has not received the suggested £30,000 contribution referred to in these reports. The Club fully understands and accepts the outcome and remains grateful to the Department of Education for considering its request.”
Mr Megaw added that, whatever the funding position, “this will not alter the Club’s commitment to local schools or its determination to ensure that the facility delivers lasting educational and community benefits”.
The club confirmed it submitted a request to the Department of Education on November 14, 2025 seeking support towards the cost of the volunteer‑led 3G project. A potential £30,000 contribution was discussed during a visit by the Education Minister to Richhill AFC and nearby Hardy Memorial Primary School on March 4, 2026.
However, Richhill AFC underlined that it has “fully respected” that decisions on public money rest with government bodies and said its role was simply “to identify a legitimate opportunity to support a community project, present the educational and community case for investment and provide any information requested”.
“We acted entirely appropriately in doing so,” the statement said.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, internal documents showed officials in the Department of Education telling the EA there was a “strong case” for an “exceptional” £30,000 allocation to Richhill, despite advice that local schools made relatively limited use of the pitch and that any award would need a detailed business case.
In a letter to an MLA in October, EA chief executive Richard Pengelly acknowledged the department had “more recently” asked it to consider whether existing capital or LMS funding could provide a mechanism to support the club “for the local controlled schools’ use of the pitch”.
The EA has confirmed that no payment has been made to date, though it did not rule out a future contribution, saying any agreed funding “would be based on usage”.
Richhill AFC’s statement focuses heavily on the educational role of the new surface and its availability to local schools.
The club says it has committed to making the 3G facility available to schools from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm, giving them access to “a modern, safe and all‑weather sporting facility for curriculum PE, extra‑curricular activities, inter‑school fixtures, Sports Days and Shared Education programmes”.
This, it argues, is particularly significant for nearby Hardy Memorial Primary School – with around 450 pupils – which is on a landlocked site with “limited availability of suitable external space”, making delivery of some PE and outdoor activities “challenging”.
“The new 3G facility now provides access to an all-weather environment capable of supporting curriculum PE, sporting activities and wider educational opportunities,” the club said.
Richhill AFC estimates that, when other local primary schools are factored in, the pitch has the potential to support sport and education for up to 700 local pupils.
“These educational benefits are not merely aspirational,” the statement continues. “The facility is already being used by local schools and community organisations and has quickly established itself as an important sporting and community hub for the area.”
Mr Megaw stressed that the project has been “led entirely by local volunteers” and that the pitch is not intended as a private resource for the club alone.
“During the school holidays, Richhill AFC also makes the facility available for informal community use by local children when it is not required for scheduled activities. This reflects the Club’s commitment to ensuring that the new pitch operates as a genuine community asset rather than a facility solely for the benefit of Richhill AFC,” he said.
“The Club is therefore proud that a project led entirely by local volunteers is already creating new opportunities for children, schools, sports clubs and community organisations across Richhill and the surrounding area.”
Concluding, the chairman said the club’s focus “remains entirely positive and forward‑looking”.
“The facility is already delivering significant benefits for schools, young people and the wider community, and we will continue working with schools, community organisations and local partners to ensure those benefits continue to grow throughout its lifespan,” he added.
