30th Jun 03. Apologies in advance - I'm in the middle of moving house at the minute folks, so updates to the site will be a bit hit and miss over the next week or so. Hopefully be back to normal before long.
28th Jun 03. On the Mark - It's just been released that out of contract Mark Glendinning has signed on at the Oval for another 2 years, great news. Colin Nixon I believe is next up.
What do you get - when you cross a bluedog, a pole and a flowerpot? 2 years in a Czech prison!
(No offence to Wisla Krakow fans - it's not that sort of pole ;-)
27th Jun 03. Darren Fitzgerald - has signed for ............... ARDS!
Aye dead on! - Just read an article in tonights 'tele', apparently 'Mac the Mouth' McCreadie says he'd love to see Glentoran supporters head up to Derry City's Brandywell tomorrow to support Omagh Town in their Interdodo Cup tie.
Love to Roy, if there's anyone in this league deserves the suppport of us Glenmen it's you ......................... ya fat b******!
25th Jun 03. HJK - are away to some team called FF Jaro tomorrow night in the Finnish League. It doesn't look like leaders FC Haka are playing so with only two points between the sides it's an early chance for HJK to go top of the table.
Kick-off is 4.30pm UK time, and once again you can keep up to date with the score at the link above.
Update: HJK won 3-2 and now lead the Finnish League by one point - albeit with a game more played.
First Rant of the new season - from Fear-Us ...... HERE
24th Jun 03. Dig Deep! - As from last night it'll now cost you seven quid to get into the Oval, £5 concession. I can only assume then that the £100 adult season ticket also covers the three 'home' League Cup games, otherwise, with only 15 League matches at the Oval this time round, you'd be saving yourself the grand total of a fiver!
Update - Season tickets will ONLY be valid for the 15 League matches next season, it's 'pay at the gate' for the rest
23rd Jun 03. UEFA's decision - about the HJK switch is due tomorrow, as is confirmation of the kick-off times. Also, apparently the Glens have promised to inform HJK later this week whether or not they approve of the Finnair Stadium's synthetic pitch. UEFA have said we don't have to play on it if we don't want to. Failing that the game will be played at AC Allianssi's Pohjola Stadium HERE, in Vantaa, a couple of miles north of Helsinki.
Update, 2.30pm - Still unofficial, but I've just got a whimper that the OK for the European switch has indeed been given by UEFA. The home leg will now be played on July 16th and the away leg the 23rd, book your flights now - trust me ;-)
It's also looking extremely likely the Glens will refuse to play on that artificial pitch.
(It's now official, the dates have been switched and the away match will now be played at Vantaa - told yez :-)
HJK - are at home today to Finnish League leaders FC Haka in their version of the Irish Cup. Kick-off is 4.30pm our time (on a Monday afternoon?), keep up to speed at the 'Live' goals link above. Given the fact our game's only a few weeks away, and the promised artificial turf decision, I'd be very surprised if Coyler or Jimmy Brown's not over for this one. Update, 6.35pm - HJK have just knocked FC Haka out of the Finnish Cup 3-2. They scored an injury time goal to make it 2-2 after being 2-0 down, then got a winner two minutes into extra time.
22nd Jun 03. Do you want the good news or the bad news first? - Judas McBride's glittering post Glentoran career takes yet another monumental leap as he joins the sheepshaggers, the Belfast Giants have gone bust, and apparently 'Mac the Mouth' McCreadie has just taken the shits after eating a dodgy Belarussian cheeseburger. There is no bad news
Ask away - An HJK fan (Niko) has set up a thread in a forum on one of the HJK websites .......... and it's in English! I have to say the Finnish guys are proving to be very helpful indeed, loadsa info, links, even a crash language course on how to post! Anything you wanna know about the Glens forthcoming trip just get over there and ask HERE
21st Jun 03. Grass? - My ass! - Just been told that HJK's Finnair Stadium is kitted out with a synthetic pitch.
20th Jun 03, 11.15am. FINLAND here we come ........ again! - The draw has just been made for the Glens forthcoming 1st Qualifying Round of the UEFA Champions League .......... and we're off to HJK Helsinki! With the Finns coming out of the hat first, initially that means the legs should be played first 'away' on Wednesday 16th July, then 'home' the following Wednesday - the 23rd. Both teams however can agree to switch, and have until Tuesday 24th of this month to confirm the venues. The winners of the tie will go through to meet MTK Hungária of Hungary on the following two Wednesday's - away leg first. Full draw HERE. BTW - the Finnish League has already started and HJK have already played 7 or 8 games.
Would you Adam and Eve it!! - While we're all off to sunny Finland and Seal sarnies, Coleraine fans can look forward to lying on a beach in Portugal and Derry City fans Cyprus!! ...... Lucky B*******!! The Hillbillies go to Malmo of Sweden.
Update: As I said above, the venues were subject to a switch, and it looks like that's what will happen. Apparently HJK have requested a switch to the Oval for the first leg and the Glens have agreed. Although approval from UEFA is required, I don't envisage any problems - so still to be confirmed, but expect the 'away' leg to now be July 23rd.
18th Jun 03. What if ......... the Glens got a half decent draw on Friday and managed to win through to the second qualifying round of the Champions League? What if ......... they were to have an unbelievable start to the season and get past that SECOND qualifying round as well? I'll tell you what if .......... The Oval has been deemed not up to scratch for a third qualifying round game and the home leg will most likely be switched to the swamp - the scum cash in again! Whatever, if we draw a club in any round, with any sort of travelling support we'll have to play at the swamp anyway!
BTW - UEFA have just confirmed what we already knew, Omagh Town's St Julians Road ground is absolutely crap, and they aren't allowed to play ANY home European games in it at all! What about offering 'Mac the Mouth' the Duns?
17th Jun 03. Bear with me folks - while I go about getting the site ready for next season. So far all the new fixtures have been posted and a new League Table sorted for the the big kick-off in August. All new Squad Pics and Stats page coming next. No rest for the wicked eh?
14th Jun 03. Not so fast Eddie - More news on elusive Scot Eddie Annand. Even though the Glens were linked to the striker, Derry City were still hopeful of bringing him to the Brandywell - until yesterday that is! It appears chances of a move to the League of Ireland club have collapsed due to (according to City) excessive wage demands from his agent. HERE
12th Jun 03. Norn Iron 0 Spain 0 - Bit late with the score folks, I was out last nite and recorded the game so just got done watching it :-) Must say I thought our Andy was excellent, he even might have scored had his left foot shot not been blocked about 20 minutes from the end. To ask any player to battle it out for 90 minutes up front on his own, against a team ranked second in the world is a lot, ............ but for a part-timer! At the end he didn't even look tired! Well done in fact to the whole team, plenty of guts, commitment, and pride in a green shirt - now where have I heard that before ;-
11th Jun 03. Andy starts again! - Andy Smith will once again lead the Northern Ireland attack tonight as they set about the mammoth task of trying to overcome group favourites Spain at home. Manager Sammy McIlroy must have quite a bit of faith in the Glens centre - forward, that's three starts in as many games, although this will mark his home debut. Be interesting to see what sort of reception he receives at the swamp wont it - given his predecessors! We shall see.
More info - on our friend Eddie Annand, apparently he was with Ayr United up to Jan 2003, and more recently with Morton. There might be damn all in it anyway - but HERE's his CV nonetheless.
10th Jun 03, 9.30pm. Northern Irelands Under 21's just got tanked 4-1 by Spain
Roy Coyle - has been spotted in Dublin - according to this mornings News Letter that is. They say Coyler is keen on Sligo Rovers centre-forward Eddie Annand after his move to Derry City fell through last week. Never heard of him!
Don't forget our Elliott! - With all the hype surrounding Andy Smith recently everyone seems to have forgotten our other 'International' ................... Elliott Morris! Elliott's back between the sticks tonight again as the N Ire Under 21's take on their Spanish counterparts at Glenavon's Mourneview Park. So much for a summer break eh!
8th Jun 03. Did I say no rumours? - What a difference a day makes! Take your pick from this lot: Chris Morgan, Marc McCann (Glenavon), Damien Curran (Newry), Andy Smith, Lee Feeney and ...................... Colin Nixon!
And that's only the playing staff ;-)
7th Jun 03. Europe - Confirmation of the Champions League draw and match dates has just been made, it has also been confirmed Romania, Hungary and Slovenia have been taken out of our hat - 3 of the better ones in my opinion. Anyway, remember, you can STILL go for just a quid!! Ballymac WILL be there wherever it is, our ballots are currently on sale and it's not drawn until the 1st of July, Flights, Accomodation, Match ticket, the lot. Somebody has to win it - why not you! Speak to a member ASAP, or contact me here at the site - it could be a week in Cyprus!!!
Right, try not to laugh - An official announcement from the IFL: 'Following last night's AGM, the following appointments were made within senior football for season 2003/04.: J Semple (Crusaders FC) re-elected President; R Jameson (Portadown FC) elected Vice President'. - PROMOTED YOU MEAN!! - How's the song go folks? - 'SIMPLE SEMPLE STAYS' - EH!!!
6th Jun 03. No new is good news ......... right? - The usual Irish League summer merry-go-round of transfers and speculation seems to be well under way, with everyone seemingly signing, or about to sign someone ......... everyone but us that is. Outside of Darren Fitzgerald moving on and the Paul McAreavey rumour I haven't heard a thing!
4th Jun 03. Rich praise indeed - Have a read at this wee extract from a report on last night's match -
'It was enough to please Italy boss Giovanni Trapattoni, who spoke of a "good game" and also welcomed the opportunity to make seven substitutions.'
'Trapattoni was also impressed by Irish League star Smith, crediting the 22-year-old with causing Italian skipper Fabio 'Cannavaro, one of the world's finest defenders, some difficulty.'
Smith, in the meantime, felt "very proud of winning his first cap against Italy of all countries".
3rd Jun 03. Andy starts in Italy! - Our Andy will be in the starting eleven for tonight's game in Italy folks! What a season it's been for the Glens forward - 35 goals for the Glens, a call-up for the N Ireland 'B' squad a fortnight ago, and now tonight he makes his full International debut against one of the best teams in the World. Great stuff - go get em Andy!
Stuarty Elliott's on the bench, as is Gary Hamilton of Portadown. The game kick's off at 8pm UK time.
Result: Italy 2 N Ireland 0 Corradi, 31 mins, Delvecchio, 67 mins
2nd Jun 03. You'll know tomorrow Andy - Andy Smith will have to wait till tomorrow lunchtime to see if he gets a starting slot in the Northern Ireland side for the friendly with Italy, Manager Sammy McIlroy refuses to name his team until then. If he does get a start though he's gonna have to watch his ankles, he'll be up against the likes of Alessandro Birindelli (Juventus), Fabio Cannavaro (Inter Milan), Massimo Oddo (Lazio). Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Empoli), Stefano Fiore (Lazio), Damiano Tommasi (Roma), and Cristiano Zanetti (Inter)., that's before he even gets anywhere near goalkeeper Francesco Toldo (Inter)! Be just like a 2nd round County Antrim Shield tie at Newry won't it :-)
1st Jun 03. Well done Sir ....... ! - Darren Fitzgerald is leaving the Glens - right? Well there's something else about the guy I think you should all know before he goes. For one reason or another Darren played most of his Glentoran football last season for the Second's, that being the case it mean't having made only a few appearances for the first team he didn't qualify for a Champions medal when the Glens won the League. He did however qualify for a 'Champions' medal for the
SECOND eleven when they won the Reserve League! Darren doesn't know that I know this, but I've just found out that the guy has given that Championship medal back to Second's Manager George Bowden, to be given to one of the kids who for whatever reason, didn't play in enough games to qualify for a Reserve League medal themselves!! ........
Just thought you'd like to know.
