Coleraine FC

What Coleraine FC does

Coleraine FC is a Northern Irish semi-professional football club founded in 1927 that competes in the NIFL Premiership, the top tier of football in Northern Ireland. The club plays its home matches at The Showgrounds on Ballycastle Road, Coleraine, which features a FIFA Quality Pro standard 4G pitch installed in 2021 and is also the site of the club's physical shop, academy facilities, and administrative offices. Beyond the senior men's squad, the club operates a youth academy with under-16, under-18, and under-20 teams competing in NIFL development leagues, a women's team in NIWFA leagues, and a community-facing mascot program (Benny the Bannsider).

Name

Coleraine FC

Legal name

Coleraine Football Club

Website

https://colerainefc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coleraine FC is a semi-professional Northern Irish football club founded in 1927 that competes in the NIFL Premiership and sells match tickets, merchandise, corporate hospitality, and sponsorships to local fans, families, and regional businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Coleraine

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Matchday Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales for home matches at The Showgrounds, including individual match tickets and season tickets.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of official club merchandise including kits, training wear, accessories, and gifts through the club shop (online and physical) and e-commerce platform.
3. Sponsorship and Advertising: Revenue from kit sponsors, board sponsors, stadium perimeter advertising, match sponsors, ball sponsors, and corporate partnership packages.
4. Corporate Hospitality: Match sponsorship packages, corporate boxes, pre-match dining experiences, and matchday corporate events.
5. European Competition: Revenue from participation in UEFA European competition qualifiers and finals (Conference League)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Coleraine FC is a semi-professional football club competing in the NIFL Premiership (Northern Irish top division), based at The Showgrounds in Coleraine. The club sells match tickets and season tickets for home fixtures, official club merchandise through an online and physical shop, and commercial sponsorship packages to local and regional businesses. It also operates youth academy teams, a women's team, a club mascot program, and the Official Coleraine Podcast.

Product overview

Coleraine FC operates as a professional football club in the NIFL Premiership (Northern Irish top division), offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered around matchday experiences and commercial partnerships. The core offering includes match tickets and season tickets for home fixtures at The Showgrounds, complemented by an extensive official merchandise operation through the Club Shop featuring Macron-branded kits, training wear, and club-branded Chevron merchandise. The club generates commercial revenue through sponsorship packages including match sponsorship, ball sponsorship, stadium perimeter advertising, cup final sponsorship, and mascot programs. Additional fan engagement products include the Official Coleraine Podcast distributed across major platforms, the Benny the Bannsider mascot program, and youth academy teams (U-16, U-18, U-20). The women's team competes in NIWFA leagues. The club also participates in European competition qualifying rounds. Season tickets and merchandise are sold through integrated platforms (TicketCo for ticketing, Shopify for e-commerce), while the club maintains a YouTube presence for match highlights and podcast distribution across multiple audio platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Benny the Bannsider: Official club mascot of Coleraine FC, a costumed character that appears at home games and community events.
• Official Coleraine Podcast
• Coleraine FC Shop

Products and services

• Match Tickets Individual match admission tickets for home fixtures at The Showgrounds, sold via TicketCo with adult, concession, and child pricing tiers.
• Season Tickets Annual subscriptions providing access to all home league matches for the season, with priority access and discount benefits.
• Official Club Merchandise Online and physical store selling official Coleraine FC merchandise including Macron kits, training wear, accessories, gifts, retro items, and gift vouchers.
• Match Sponsorship Corporate sponsorship package for individual home fixtures including company branding, pre-match dining, premier seating, player meeting, and media exposure.
• Match Ball Sponsorship Sponsorship package providing match ball branding, free entry for sponsor and guest, signed match ball souvenir, and media photograph opportunities.
• Matchday Mascot Package Child mascot experience allowing young supporters to lead players onto the pitch, receive a complimentary Coleraine strip, and have media coverage.
• Benny the Bannsider Mascot Program Official club mascot program featuring Benny the Bannsider, with mascot experiences for children, parade events, and community appearances at games and functions.
• Official Coleraine Podcast Weekly audio program featuring match analysis, player interviews, previews, and club news, distributed across major podcast platforms.
• Youth Academy Teams (U-16, U-18, U-20) Youth development program featuring Under-20, Under-18, and Under-16 academy teams competing in NIFL development leagues.
• Coleraine Women Women's football team competing in NIWFA leagues, with recent promotion charge and team development initiatives.
• European Competition Participation Coleraine FC participates in UEFA European competition qualifying rounds, including UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, providing high-profile competitive matches.
• Stadium Perimeter Advertising Perimeter board and stadium signage advertising providing company visibility during matches with television broadcast coverage and social media exposure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 season tickets sold for 2022/23 - record numbers for second consecutive season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and lead partner.

• Tim Hortons (Coleraine)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 202220% discount for season ticket holders at Tim Hortons store in Coleraine (Riverside Retail Park). Perks program for fans to encourage supporter loyalty and community connection.
• Radio TaxisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2022Official Taxi Partner and podcast sponsor. Radio Taxis has served the local community for over 45 years. Partnership provides taxi services and marketing support for the club's official podcast.
• Causeway Golf CentreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2022Sponsorship partnership with Ballymoney-based indoor golf centre. First-team players and staff visited for team building event. Partnership includes staff events and hospitality opportunities.
• Hummingbird ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Mental health partnership with award-winning local social enterprise supporting mental ill health and resilience work within the local community. Coleraine FC players, coaches, and staff use their profiles to promote Hummingbird's mental health initiatives. Partnership based on shared community values and lived experience approach.
• Fibruslead partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLead Partner of Coleraine FC - primary club sponsor providing main partnership visibility and support.
• MacroncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial kit supplier providing match kits, training wear, and merchandise. Macron is a leading sportswear brand providing technical apparel and equipment.
• Holley OptometristsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing Man of the Match sponsorship for home games - player recognition program.
• Irish FAcoreOthersPartnership with Irish Football Association - national governing body for football in Northern Ireland.
• NIFLcoreOthersPartnership with Northern Ireland Football League - the governing body running the top-tier NIFL Premiership and other competitions.
• JKC BMWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClub partner and sponsor providing automotive partnership and marketing support.
• Lynas Food ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClub partner and sponsor in the food services sector - appears on club shirts and provides sponsorship support.
• Score FCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClub partner providing marketing and sponsorship support.
• Urban PortrushminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClub partner and sponsor - local business providing marketing support.
• Newbridge RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClub partner providing hospitality and sponsorship support - appears on club shirts.
• RiverRidgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenewed sponsorship - appears on playing shorts as sponsor. Waste management company supporting the club.
• McKendry FabricationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAppears on playing shorts as sponsor - local fabrication company providing sponsorship.
• JW Service CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Benny the Bannsider mascot - automotive service business supporting the mascot program.
• Benny the BannsidercoreOthersClub mascot character engaging young fans through mascot experiences, parade events, community appearances, and social media presence. Draws families to matches and builds community connection.
• Sport Changes LifeminorOthersCharity partnership where club donates signed memorabilia for fundraising raffles supporting the Stride the Stadia Challenge.
• Clive Richardson LimitedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company that installed the FIFA Quality Pro standard 4G pitch at The Showgrounds in 2021. Experience includes Windsor Park, Crusaders Seaview, Dundalk Oriel Park, and the Brandywell stadiums.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Glentoran FC: Historic Belfast-based NIFL Premiership club competing in the same league as Coleraine. Directly comparable in product offerings (matchday tickets, merchandise, corporate hospitality) and in operating geographies within Northern Ireland.
• Crusaders FC: Belfast-based NIFL Premiership club and frequent top-flight competitor. Comparable in revenue model (matchday, merchandise, sponsorships) and in operating within the same Northern Irish semi-professional football ecosystem.
• Larne FC: NIFL Premiership rival that won the league championship in 2025-26, finishing three points ahead of Coleraine. Directly comparable as a Northern Irish top-flight semi-professional/professional club competing for the same domestic honours and European qualification slots.
• Linfield FC: The most decorated club in Northern Irish football and a direct NIFL Premiership competitor. Comparable in operating model — matchday tickets, season tickets, merchandise, corporate sponsorship — and shares the same league, fan-base structure, and European qualification pathway.
• Cliftonville FC: North Belfast NIFL Premiership club and direct league competitor. Shares the same operational structure — The Showgrounds-style home ground, ticketing, merchandise, sponsorship, and community engagement programmes.
• Glenavon FC: Lurgan-based NIFL Premiership club and direct domestic competitor. Operates a similar matchday, merchandise, and sponsorship-driven revenue model in the same league structure.
• Ballymena United FC: NIFL Premiership club based in County Antrim, close geographic peer to Coleraine. Competes in the same domestic league with comparable matchday, merchandise, and sponsorship revenue streams.
• Dungannon Swifts FC: NIFL Premiership club serving as a direct league competitor. Comparable operating model including ticketing, sponsorship packages, and youth academy operations.
• Institute FC: NIFL Premiership club based in Derry/Londonderry region. Operates a similar semi-professional model with comparable matchday, merchandise, and sponsorship offerings within the same league.
• Carrick Rangers FC: NIFL Premiership club operating from a similar small-town catchment area. Comparable in scale, fan base size, and reliance on local sponsorship and matchday revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ColeraineFC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7OJK7jn8m9-V6i9Npv77Uw
• Facebookfacebook.com/colerainefc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coleraine-fc
• Instagraminstagram.com/colerainefc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coleraine FC