31st May 03, 2.05am. We're in the money .......... apparently! - OK folks, this'll be brief. Just heard the IFA have voted to accept the Government's Task Force proposals - no idea what the details are, but in the pub earlier I vaguely remember seeing Jimmy Boyce's big gub looking fairly smug on the box outside the Welly Boot Hotel.
30th May 03. 8 million good reasons! - It's the IFA's AGM tonight folks - so who gives a sh*t I hear you ask? Well on this occasion there are 8,000,000 good reasons why YOU should, tonight's the night they vote on the recommendations of the Government's Northern Ireland Football Task Force. £8 million is up for grabs for football here, and God help us, but it's all down to the suits at the IFA! The major obstacle to NI football getting that money is the demand that the IFA's 55-member ruling council be streamlined to a 17-strong board, in effect, 38 of them must vote themselves out of a job! It's simple really, if they do, then the local game gets £8 million of government funds, if they don't we get zip, and football here is on the short road to no-town. How do you think it'll go?
28th May 03. Fitzgerald released - The worst kept secret in Glentoran's history is out, Darren Fitzgerald has just been told he can leave. Darren, 3 years at the Oval since his high profile signing from Glasgow Rangers in June 2000, failed to make an impression in all that time, although to be fair he did pick up a knee injury a couple of years back. However hard he tried though, it just didn't happen at the Oval for the striker, and frankly a future with Glentoran just wasn't mean't to be. Still only aged 24 though,.Darren shouldn't be too long without a club. We wish him well.
27th May 03. Rumour has it - the Glens have signed ex Swindon Town and Portadown midfielder Paul McAreavey. As I say, rumour has it - I'll try to confirm and get back to you.
League Cup for starters - The CIS League Cup will kick-off the 2003/04 season. The Glens are of course holders of the trophy and have been grouped with Cliftonville, Omagh Town and Dungannon Swifts. The top two teams from each of the 4 groups will qualify for the quarter-finals. I haven't a clue yet if the group games are to be on both a 'home' and 'away' basis, though I'd assume it'll be just a single game. Could be a couple of nice aways in that lot regardless couldn't there :-(
Group One: Glentoran, Cliftonville, Omagh Town, Dungannon Swifts
Group Two: Portadown, Glenavon, Ballymena Utd, Institute
Group Three: Coleraine, Ards, Crusaders, Limavady Utd
Group Four: Lisburn Distillery, Newry Town, Larne, Linfield
I see this morning there's yet another ex. Glenman on the move, John Devine. It seems big John's on his way to Larne ........ yes folks - Larne!! When are they ever gonna learn? There's only one possible direction your career can go once you decide to leave the Oval, a year or two at Inver Park and he'll be about ready for the swamp.
23rd May 03. Nobody's child - Judas No Pride has just been shown the door by the scum, he tops the latest hit list along with 3 other 'Mickey Mouse' players surplus to requirements at the swamp! Christ, if you can't get a place in that team what friggin chance do ya have. Altogether now "Ohhhhhhhh Justy Justy, ya went to whinger park and ya won F*** ALL" :-)
22nd May 03. 'il futuro è luminoso, il futuro è Glentoran' :-) Things just keep getting better and better for Andy Smith. Just days after the Glens centre-forward made his Northern Ireland debut in the 'B' International against Scotland, he now finds his name on Sammy McIlroy's team sheet for the next two full International games, a friendly away to Italy on 3rd June, and then eight days later in the European Championship qualifier against Spain at the swamp!
Update - According to tonight's 'Tele, English 3rd Division Northampton Town are looking at Andy - first of many I reckon.
20th May 03. Update - Just a quick update on the Northern Ireland 'B' game tonight, I've just found out that Andy Smith, Andy Kirk, and Stuart Elliott, will all start the game in the forward line. How's about that for a new partnership at the Oval!
23 mins - Scotland 1 - N Ireland 0 (Hutchinson)
26 mins - Scotland 2 - N Ireland 0 (Kyle)
57 mins - Scotland 2 - N Ireland 1 (Alas, not Smith, but Jones ......... but it came from a Smith cross ;-)
RESULT 2 - 1
Lapped it! - The scum have done a last minute 'U' turn and have shamefully been allowed to pull out of the Inter'DODO', they will now be replaced by Omagh Town. The Official line from the swamp is that they have too many players on injuries, on holiday, or out of contract ............ What a load of CRAP! Fact remains they've drawn Belarus side Shakhtior Soligorsk, and because the draw's been made for the first 3 rounds, they've worked out there's no chance of landing a big name, even if (a long shot I know), they were to actually win a game! So they've just said 'to hell with that'!
I wonder if they'd been due to meet Barcelona would they have been so stuck for players! Course the IFA just said
Andy starts for Norn Iron! - Andy Smith has been given a starting place for the Northern Ireland 'B' team against Scotland in Glasgow tonight, Manager Sammy McIlroy says he wants a look at Andy to see if he can cut it at a higher level. Elliott Morris remember is also in the squad and has been promised at least an outing in the second half.
19th May 03. ICF 2003 - Recognize anyone? HERE
16th May 03. Glentoran Scout - Eric Halliday has left the Glens to take over the Manager's job at home club Bangor.
CHAMPIONS ........... AGAIN! - Glentoran II's have beaten Cliftonville Olympic 5-4 on penalty kicks to lift the Reserve League Title for the second year on the trot. After a scoreless 90 minutes and extra-time at Solitude, the wee Glens kept their heads better in the spot kick decider to complete a wonderful 'TREBLE' Championship season at the Oval, remember, the Under 16 side won their League Title as well! The future certainly looks bright doesn't it :-)
Suspended - Darren Armour has joined the list of Glentoran players suspended for the beginning of next season, a one game ban has been handed out in the latest IFA list. Michael O'Neill will already be missing (4), and Chris Walker (1).
15th May 03. Speculation - about Portadown's Peter McCann ended last night when he signed for a further 2 years.
Don't forget - Glentoran II's play Cliftonville Olympic tonight in the 2002/03 Reserve League Title Play-off game. After last seasons 'Treble', and the previous seasons 'Double', the wee Glens are looking to complete yet another 'Double' having already won this seasons George Wilson Cup! Your support could make all the difference tonight, so if you're missin it as much as I am this last two weeks, get your ass over there and cheer the lads on. Kick-off is 7.45pm.
14th May 03. Gibson Cup Photo's now online - HERE ............. DON'T STEAL THEM!
13th May 03. Glens do the 'Double' - At the Northern Ireland Football Writers Awards Dinner last night the Glens cleaned up yet again. Gary Smyth won his umpteenth 'Player of the Year' award this season, while Coyler lifted the Managers version - the eighth time he's done so! Sewell's gonna need a wider lens for the pre-season photo shoot :-)
12th May 03. Finally! - Photo's from the Institute game HERE, better late than never eh :-)
11th May 03. A Final swipe - from Fear-Us HERE ......... Roll on NEXT season ;-)
Keep em' coming! - The Guinness Northern Ireland Football Writers ' Player of the Year' Award is to be presented at Belfast's Europa Hotel on Monday night. There are only three nominees, Elliott Morris, Gary Smyth, and Andy Smith................... Nuff said.
10th May 03. Call-ups for Glenmen - Glentoran's Elliott Morris and Andy Smith have just been named in the Northern Ireland 'B' squad, for the game against Scotland in Glasgow on May 20th. When you think they'll be lining up alongside former Glenmen Andy Kirk and Stuart Elliott, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a regular Glens match! Why not just send the whole bloody team!
9th May 03. Reserve League Title - Glentoran II's and Cliftonville Olympic will play-off for the Reserve League Title this Thursday night (7.45). In the interests of fairness and impartiallity, the IFL have decreed the game must be played at ......... SOLITUDE !!
6th May 03. Bangor or Newry? - Where would you rather go next season? Newry and Bangor meet tonight in the first of their play-off games, for the privilege of competing in the Premier League next season. Bangor have home advantage tonight while the second leg at Newry is on Friday. Mouth-watering stuff ! Result: Bangor 0 Newry Town 0
Out till September! - Michael O'Neill can take an extended break this Summer. The Glens midfielder has just been given a 4 game ban in the final IFA list of suspensions.............. beginning yesterday! As we've obviously no more games left to play, the suspension will now begin at the start of next season (as did Darren Armour's 5 game ban last August). The ban of course only involves games under the IFA/IFL control, so won't apply to our UEFA Champions League qualifying games. Chris Walker has also been suspended, but for one game only.
5th May 03. Shhhh - All gone a wee bit quiet now hasn't it after Saturdays big anticlimax - and understandably so. Well, never fear, although the season may be over, BallymacGSC.com will remain updated throughout the summer. Any news on the transfer scene, European game, new ground, in fact anything at all going on at the Oval and you'll still be able to read about it here on the site. There's also still a couple of photo pages from the Gibson Cup celebrations coming later this week so look out for those ...... you might even be in some :-)
3rd May 03. 10.00am. Five hours to go - to hell with this ................................ WHERE'S THE VODKA!!
Re below - I see my wee bird was spot on again. Poor old Billy, 20 years of loyal service just flushed down the toilet! No room for sentiment at the swamp these days that's for sure. 'DON'T PANIC' !! 'DON'T PANIC' !! ............ Great stuff :-)
My wee bird ... just told me, the scum need more than a new manager - after tonight I hear they now also need a new senior Committee man. Surely not, and with the team doing so well too! Course I 'McCould-bre' wrong ;-)
2nd May 03. Replay? - Hopefully it wont be required, but you might like to know that if after 90 minutes, then 30 minutes extra-time, tomorrows Irish Cup Final isn't settled, the replay will be next Saturday back at the swamp.
IRISH CUP FINAL 2003 - 'So here we go, we're at it again ................' as the old Glens song goes. And at it again we ARE. This will be our 11th Irish Cup Final in the last 20 years ...... and we've won the lot! In fact if we win this one it will be 12 in a row, the last time we were beaten in the Final was on 22nd April 1967 - 3-1 to Crusaders!
As if the Cup Final itself wasn't a big enough occasion, this one could also bring the Glens the coveted 'Clean Sweep' of all the domestic silverware on offer, and how often does that chance come around? Coleraine stand in the way.
We've played the Bannsiders 3 times this season and we've yet to lose, two draws and one win for us so far - let's hope that run continues a wee while longer. So who's gonna be on the bench? I say that because I believe the following squad of 14 is already picked. Morris, Glendinning, Leeman, Smyth, Nixon, Walker, O'Neill, Young, Lockhart, McCann, McCann (II), Smith, Armour and Halliday. The three players in bold I reckon will be on the bench, although Coyler may well juggle O'Neill with one of the others. Have a look at those names again - not a weakness among them. These are the men who have brought this club so much success this season, goals are all over the place, the defence solid as a rock, and midfield ..... well take your pick! When you consider the names that WON'T make the teamsheet, it's frightening. Kevin Keegan, Marty Hunter, Nevin Riches, Andy Kilmartin, Darren Fitzgerald, and Neil Armstrong, all six of them would walk into any other side in the league! Take nothing away from Coleraine, they are an excellent side, they are also the form team in the country at the minute and if we're not on our game tomorrow they could well make us pay.
I think Coleraine are going to have to be very good indeed.
FIVE buses are leaving the Ballymac tomorrow, all at 1.30pm. Party starts at 11.30 in the morning for a chance to get in the mood and settle the proverbial 'bangors'. Check the other buses at the link above as some of them are already full.
Have a brilliant day, and come on lads - let's do that 'CLEAN SWEEP'. Le jeu avant tout
And Another Winner! - Jonathan Calderwood, former groundsman at the Oval, has just won 'Groundsman of the Year' award in the First Division in England for Wolves. On top of that, he has finished 4th best in the Premiership.as well, as he also does gorundsman for Aston Villa! With the overall prize in England due to be announced in two weeks time, Jonathan is keeping his fingers crossed, and not surprisingly so when you consider the prize is an all expenses trip to anywhere in the world for a fortnight!! Great news indeed for the lad, and at a time when his mother recently underwent a serious operation. Well done mate on yet another award for Glenmen .......... need anybody to carry your luggage ;-)
SOLD OUT! - If you haven't already got a ticket for tomorrows final you've had it! Word reaching me today is that all 5,500 have gone, and the chances of any more being issued at this late stage are ZIP! There may be one or two odd ones doing the rounds, but you'll be a very lucky man if you get one.
1st May 03. Confirmed - It's as I said a few weeks back, the draw for the UEFA Champions League first and second qualifying rounds takes place in Geneva on Friday, 20th June 2003. The first qualifying round matches will be played on 16th and 23rd July 2003, and the second qualifying round follows on 30th July and 6th August 2003. The draw for the third qualifying round will take place on Friday, 25th July 2003, for matches on 12/13th August and 26/27th August 2003.
Lucky linfield!! - The scum can count themselves very lucky indeed they played the Glens Seconds on Tuesday, and not LAST night! The wee Glens trounced Newry Town Reserves 16, yes SIXTEEN - nil at the Oval!!
Credit where credit's due then - in hindsight the scum actually did very well to get a point :-)
