30th June 05. MAIN STAND ONLY! - Glentoran fans will be given use of the Oval Main Stand only when Shelbourne visit the Oval for our Champions League qualifying tie! Officials say visiting fans will be given sole use of the 2,000 seater 'Shed', even though it is rumoured that only 400 or so Shels supporters will be heading north for the game. With tickets expected to go on sale this Monday morning, and the Main Stand only accomodating around 2,500, my advice is get your finger out!
29th June 05. BALLYMAC BUSES:
TNS, Wales - Ok folks, anyone going to Wales this Saturday ... The bus will depart Wilgar Street at 04.30am, clubrooms will be open from 04.00. Bus will be heading directly to Dublin for the 08.30 sailing to Holyhead. We should arrive at TNS around 3.00pm, so you'll have a chance to grab a pint and some grub before the 6 o'clock kick-off.
The bus departs TNS for Holyhead again at 11.00pm (Law requires driver must have 8 hrs break) for the 02.30 sailing to Dublin, and we expect to arrive back in Belfast for approx 9.00am Sunday.
One final note - Passports are not required for the ferry crossing, but it may be advisable if everyone brought some form of identification just to be on the safe side. ** TNS bus now sold out **
Shelbourne - Ballymac will indeed be running 3 buses to Dublin for the Shelbourne game. ** First bus now sold out **
Buses are also running to the following friendlies ... (no reservation required - just turn up)
Abbey Villa, July 6th - Departing the clubrooms at 5.45pm for the 6.45pm kick off. All visitors welcome.
Magherafelt Sky Blues, July 9th - Departing the clubrooms at 1.30pm for the 3.00pm kick off. All visitors welcome.
NB. This bus will not be arriving back in Belfast till approx 9.00pm, beer and grub stop on the way home :-)
28th June 05. Q. Who's the err 'foreign' looking chap training with the Glens? ... and it ain't Fitzroy Simpson ;-)
27th June 05. You just can't keep a secret can you ... ! There's me biting ma lip all week and the BBC go and blab it out all over the place ... Portadown's Peter McCann has signed for the Glens. According to reports the 24 year old has put pen to paper for 3 years, if it's true I'm personally delighted. The guy is quick, and he can score goals. Quality signing.
26th June 05. Dublin Buses - Ballymac will probably be running at least 3 buses to Dublin for the Shelbourne game on July 20th. Estimated time of departure will be 12 o'clock noon the day of the game, returning directly after the match.
25th June 05. Shels go second - Glentoran's Champions League opponents Shelbourne won 4-2 at Waterford United last night to go second in the Eircom League. BTW, Shelbourne are being quoted as 5,000/1 shots to win the Champions League Title ... do ya think it might be worth doin the Glens each-way ;-)
24th June 05, 3.00pm. BUSES ... Ballymac could have upwards of 3 - 4 buses going to Shelbourne's Tolka Park, at least one of which will be an 'over-nighter'. Two coaches have already been reserved.
2.15pm. LATEST ... Glentoran, the IFA, the FAI and UEFA have all now indicated that they won't have a problem with the Glens 'home' tie being played at the Oval on July 13th. Shelbourne apparently still have reservations, but Alex has told me that although still to be officially ratified by UEFA, we are fairly confident of being given the ok.
12.45pm. LATEST ... Ok folks listen up. Just been speaking to Glens Secretary Alex McWilliams in Switzerland. Alex tells me the Glens have told Shelbourne we intend playing our 'home' leg at the Oval as it came out of the hat - ie. on July 13th, the away leg in Dublin the following week. Shelbourne have objected to UEFA, citing the 12th of July celebrations as being contentious. The Glens have the backing of the IFA's David Currie on side, but await a final decision from UEFA's meeting with representatives from Shelbourne later today. Soon as I hear you will too.
BTW ... there are now only 4 seats left on the Ballymac bus to Wales next weekend.
11.20am ... DUBLIN HERE WE COME!!! - Shelbourne will play Irish League Champions Glentoran in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, the winners travelling to Romania to face the Glens old 1990 European foes Steaua Bucharest in the second stage. Fairytale stuff though for our opponents in next weeks friendly TNS, first out of the hat along with European Champions Liverpool means the tiny Welsh club now have a money-spinning tie with the Anfield giants to look forward to! What a sweat for us though, we were the 9th match from 12 to be drawn, and still in the hat along with Shelbourne were possible trips to Bosnia, Moldova and Cyprus! Had my shades and shorts almost packed! Awe well ... at least now we finally get to find out who the REAL all Ireland Champions are :-)
Although the Glens were drawn out of the hat first, there's still no confirmation as to whether we're home or away for the first leg over the 12th.
23rd June 05. Eyes down look in ... Champions League Draw 'LIVE' tomorrow on UEFA.com at 11.00am folks. As to whether or not teams will be zoned, I'm told they could still well be ... and just before the draw itself. Fingers crossed!
One final thing before tomorrows draw - a wee reminder there are only 6 seats left on the Ballymac bus to Wales for the TNS friendly on July 2nd. Remember, return bus and ferry crossing for £55, first come first served, once they're gone they're gone - the club will not be running a second coach.
22nd June 05. Damien McLaughlin ... has signed for the Whites.
20th June 05. Rainy days in Georgia? - UEFA tell me a decision will be made some time today as to whether or not our Champions League 1st qualifying draw will be zoned. Were that to be the case it would almost certainly mean a nightmare trip to the likes of Georgia, Moldova or Bosnia would be ruled out ... as unfortunately would be a week sunnin your lilly-white Glentoran ass in Cyprus :-(
17th June 05. More money for Myeloma Charity fund... HERE
15th June 05. Is Tim II on his way?
10th June 05. IT COULD BE LIVERPOOL! European Champions Liverpool have today been given a lifeline by UEFA and a chance to defend their Champions League Title. They've now been enterered into the first Qualifying stage of the 2005/06 competition as one of the seeded teams ...
... AND GO INTO THE JUNE 24th DRAW WITH A CHANCE OF FACING THE GLENS!
6th June 05. Bit quiet innit, maybe I should make something up ... sure if it's good enough for the IFA ...
2nd June 05. Kilmartin off to Whites - Andy Kilmartin has signed a 2 year contract with Paul Kirk's Lisburn Distillery.
(wonder if the IFA have all his paperwork in order ;-)
1st June 05. Morgan stays - It would seem our Chrissy seems to like it at the Oval, he's just extended his contract to at least the end of the 2006/07 season ... Cheer up DJ :-)
