Old News May 2006
30th May 06. Just see in today's 'tele' ... that manager Paul Millar has moved to quash rumours in the weekend press that Locky's leaving the Oval. Windy says it's news to him and far as he's concerned Darren's going nowhere! Delighted to hear it Paul. Read the article HERE
29th May 06. CHRIS WALKER TESTIMONIAL MATCH
The Chris Walker Benefit committee are happy to confirm that Chris's testimonial match will be Glentoran v Welsh Premier League champions T.N.S. and will take place at the Oval on Saturday 8th July with a 3pm kick off, more details regarding admission prices etc will follow at a later date.
As part of the fund raising/entertainment on the day we are organizing a penalty kick competition. We are looking for a maximum of 12 people who can raise a minimum of £50 each in sponsorship to take part. A preliminary round will take place before the start of the match with the top six taking part in the final at half time. The winner will be presented with his prize by Chris at the after match buffet in the Danepak suite which will be attended by players and officials of both teams. Only the first 12 people whom we deem to be suitable will receive sponsorship forms and therefore a place in the competition. To book your place in the competition please contact myself as soon as possible on 07886337857 or e-mail me at william.cameron2@ntlworld.com
William Cameron - Secretary
28th May 06. ForzaGlentoran.com ... is now forzaglentoran.net ... (not that for one second you'd wanna leave the Ballymac site of course ;-) Anyway - move yer wee pointy thingy to thon favourites do da at the top of the screen and save!
27th May 06. Glentoran Gazette does it again!
The Glentoran Gazette has yet again scooped the Northern Ireland Programme Collectors 'Programme of the Year' award - for the 7th time in 8 years!! A tremendous achievement, and just reward for Programme Editor John Moore and the lads from the 1923 Committee, who every week consistently produce and distribute the best match day programme in the Irish League, whatever the weather!
Well done indeed to all involved - Congratulations all round :-)
23rd May 06. Glentoran Community Trust website updated ... Launch report now online ... HERE
UEFA Cup update ... It's less than 2 weeks to go now til we know the final seedings for our UEFA Cup first qualifying round draw. The last 3 seedings will be decided on June 4th when the winners of UEFA's 'Fair Play' competition will be known ... and guess what ...? Finland are in the lead!!! Full details at the UEFA link above ;-)
17th May 06. Come fly with us ... again! - There will be another opportunity this Saturday night to grap a trip to Europe this season with the Ballymac. The full package - flights, hotel, and transfers will go on auction to the highest bidder at Chris Walkers' below-mentioned Sportsmans Buffet in the Park Avenue Hotel. One lucky bidder could be off to Europe for a fraction of the cost thanks to the generous donation of the prize by John Quinliven of Childlink. Remember depending on the draw the actual trip could cost upwards of £400+!
Don't forget too, you could still go for a quid by entering the Ballymac ballot at the link above ... somebody has to win it!
It begins ... MeLaugh & Holmes first away - Gavin MeLaugh, who's 3 year spell at the club expires this July is not to be offered a new contract, while Shaun Holmes, still contracted until June 2007, is being made available to other clubs.
Glentoran AGM tonight folks - kick-off 7.00pm ... somebody tape the match!
15th May 06. Smicker back? Welcome Back Gary :-)
14th May 06. CHRIS WALKER BENEFIT - Trevor Erskine, Alan Harrison and Tom Dickey
We are trying to contact the three members (named above) of the undefeated Glentoran league winning team of 1980/81 to invite them to join other members of the team at Chris's Sportsman's Buffet and Auction being held in the Park Ave Hotel on Saturday night. A presentation will be made on the night to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of this great feat.
If anybody can forward a contact number for any of these players we would be very grateful. You can contact myself on 07886337857. There are still a few tickets left for the function and can be purchased by contacting myself at the above mentioned number. Tickets are £20 each and price includes Guinness Reception (7pm-8pm), a quality buffet, guest speaker and lots of various sporting memorabilia on auction.
William Cameron, Secretary
12th May 06. Glens to play TNS - Glentoran are to play Welsh Premier League side TNS in a pre-season friendly again, only this time at the Oval and probably in aid of Chris Walkers benefit. The match takes place on Saturday 8th July and could well be our last game before the UEFA Cup first Qualifying round 1st leg on July 13th. Attempts are being made to secure one or two other summer friendlies, most notably against a few English Championship sides.
UEFA Cup draw updated at the link above ... Two Lithuanian sides move into the mix
10th May 06. Donegal Celtic for the Premier League! HERE
FOLLOW THE GLENS TO EUROPE FOR A QUID! - The annual Ballymac European Ballot is now on sale! There are just 6 weeks to go now until the draw for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup on Friday 23rd June, and with the first and second legs on July 13th and 27th it's only 9 weeks to our first match! The Ballymac will be there once again of course, but with flights clashing with the July fortnight, and expensive countries like Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden in the hat, you could be looking at around £300 - £400 for a 2 or 3 day trip ... and it doesn't leave much time to save up does it! Well one lucky ballot winner will be going for FREE! FREE Flights, FREE Accomodation, FREE Transfers, and FREE Match Ticket - no matter where we go! Click on the plane above for more ...
FA Cup Final - The Ballymac clubrooms will be open again this Saturday folks to show the FA Cup Final.
All visitors are very welcome, so why not come along for a bit of craic and watch the big game LIVE on our big screen.
Doors open 1.00pm ... no disco this time and you don't have to paint your face ;-)
9th May 06. Many Thanks - Now that the dust has all but settled ...
To the face-painters, the burger van, the street decorators, balloon blower-uppers, bus drivers, bus stewards, bar staff, street vendors, disco dancers, bud buyers, the players and manager for turning up at the clubrooms that night ... but most of all to ALL of you who either travelled with or simply turned up at the Ballymac in such numbers on the day to help make it such a colourful spectacle ... THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM ALL AT THE BALLYMAC GSC :-)
... only 11 months, 27 days til the next one ;-)
7th May 06. OTF! - The way some of those players just rolled over yesterday after that linfield second goal went in made me wanna be sick! If they can't lift it for the shirt in an Irish Cup Final Paul then they're no good to Glentoran FC. My advice? Take no meddling from anyone down there this summer, YOU are the one who will rise and fall by this team next season mate, no-one else. If you don't want them in your team get them out to f***!
5th May 06. IRISH CUP FINAL 2006 - Been there done that, many many times ... just remember that! I know many's a bluedog, and believe me, regardless of the alcohol induced bravado we have all witnessed this past month or so .... deep down I can assure you each and every one of them would prefer playing ANYONE tomorrow other than GLENTORAN FC! The sight of that Red, Green and Black, Our Pedigree in this Competition, Our History, Tradition, Our Massive Support. The Noise generated from that North Stand ... It's as good as a goal start! Don't believe for one second that they're looking forward to this game, and that includes their team! There's only one name on this years Irish Cup, only ever was - I know it, YOU know it, but most of all THEY know it ... and it frightens the friggin life outta them! WE are the team to beat in the end of season showpiece, and have been for some 25 years. This Trophy has become the property of Glentoran Football Club and the people of East Belfast, and I have faith in this current squad of players to rise to the challenge and bring our Irish Cup home. I say to them - Be under no illusions, WE SET THE BENCHMARK, WE ARE THE IRISH CUP!!!
But hey, BBC have paid good money for the TV rights, so let's go through the motions anyway and not spoil a good party. As I say, been there done that. Have a good one tomorrow folks ... you all know the drill ;-)
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE ... LE JEU AVANT TOUT
Internet bookings for the Ballymac Irish Cup Final buses have now CLOSED
Give yourselves a pat on the back - nearly half of the seats on Ballymac's 5 buses were sold here on the site! There are some seats still available though, but unless you already have your ticket or email confirmation you'll just have to turn up at the clubrooms on the day. Many thanks to all those who took the trouble to book online ... mine's a bottle of Bud ;-)
3rd May 06, 6.15pm. GUESS WHO'S GOING THIS SATURDAY ?
JUST CONFIRMED THIS AFTERNOON ...
ALMOST 10 YEARS TO THE VERY DAY ...
AND HE'S BACK!
OOH AAAAH GLEN LITTLE, OOH AAAAH GLEN LITTLE, OOH AAAAH GLEN LITTLE .. ;-)
Ballymac book a FIFTH bus ! - There will now be FIVE 53-seater buses leaving Wilgar Street this Saturday for the Irish Cup Final. Seats can still be booked online at the link above (preferably), or simply arrive at the clubrooms on the day. Remember - All inclusive for just £4. Should any of you who are NOT travelling to the game with the Ballymac wish to sample some of the mornings craic, do feel free to come along. Entrance to the morning disco will be free (although we would ask for a donation to our chosen charity box for face-painting, balloons etc). 3 days to go ... ;-)
2nd May 06. New faces ... Heard Ards Jason Hill has been given a 3 year deal at the Oval. Also hear we're after Ards Goalie Ciaran McLaughlin & Defender/Midfielder Jay Magee.
1st May 06. Mon the wee Glens ... Get yer ass up to Dundela's Wilgar Park tonight to see Glentoran Colts take on Donegal Celtic Youth in the Youth League Cup semi-final, (Crues Colts v Glenavon III's in the other). Kick-off 7.30pm.
Update: Colts lost 2-1 :-(
19th May 06. THE GLENTORAN COMMUNITY TRUST IS HERE!!! (READ)
The long-awaited Glentoran Community Trust, legally registered with Northern Ireland Companies' House since Monday last, today receives it's 'Official' launch in front of the gathered Press in the Park Avenue Hotel Belfast. East Belfast MP Mr Peter Robinson, Supporters Direct Deputy Chief Executive Dave Boyle, IFA Community Relations Officer Michael Boyd, Chairman of the East Belfast Partnership Sammy Douglas, and Paul Rothwell, Managing Director of the Glentoran Community Trust's Commercial Partner ViSport, will be among the guest speakers to welcome the dawn of a new era at Glentoran Football Club. An open fans forum to discuss the Trust Constitution, and give everyone the opportunity to officially join the Trust will then take place on Wednesday 7th June 2006. Visit the brand new Glentoran Community Trust website at www.GCTNI.com for all the details!
