29th Nov 05. Glentoran 3 Distillery 2 (AET) - Chris Morgan & Shaun Holmes before half-time, then Locky to the rescue in extra-time! Made hard friggin work of this one I can tell ya!
GLENTORAN UNITED FOR LEGEND’S FUNERAL
In the days that have followed the death of George Best it has been suggested that Glentoran supporters make some sort of united gesture by congregating in one place for Bestie’s funeral. To that end 'Rest in East' have negotiated the use of La Scala restaurant at the Stormont Hotel exclusively for the use of 100-150 Glentoran fans on the morning of the service. In order to miss the traffic and any road restrictions etc, the restaurant will be open from 7.30am until 9.00am, and a full Ulster breakfast including tea, coffee and orange juice will be provided for fans during that time. The intention will then be to leave the hotel together to attend the outdoor service across the road at Parliament Buildings after breakfast. Admission to La Scala will be by ticket only priced at £10.00 (normally £16.00), and must be purchased in advance. This is not a fund raising exercise, but simply a chance for the Glentoran Community to gather in one place to pay our last respects to East Belfast’s most famous son.
ALL Glentoran fans are welcome to attend, the only suggestion we would make is that on the morning everyone attending the hotel wear their colours. As a show of solidarity across the football world, wouldn't it be a fitting tribute to the great man if fans from ALL clubs did the same.
Tickets for the event will be on sale at this evening’s Co Antrim Shield quarter-final game between Glentoran and Distillery at the Oval.. They can be purchased during the half time interval from the 1923 Committee Clubrooms located half way up the middle stairwell at the City End of the reserved stand. Limited availability means tickets will be allocated on a strictly first come first served basis, when it's sold out it's sold out. To that end you can order them in advance from me directly here at the site by email, leaving a contact phone number - info@ballymacgsc.com
You'll already know of course the Glens beat Glenavon 3-0 on Saturday, but when news reached me of wee Scotty's broken leg it put a real dampener on the weekend. The fact it was a recurrance of his previous break certainly doesn't bode well for the wee mans future footballing career. I believe he went through the operation yesterday and it goes without saying that all our thoughts are with him up in the Ulster Hospital. Chin up son, you never know ...
25th Nov 05, 1.00pm. George Best: 22nd May 1946 - 25th November 2005. The best footballer in the World.
Born East Belfast 22nd May 1946 - 37 caps for Northern Ireland, English 1st Division League Championship Winner 1965 & 1967, European Cup Winner 1968, and British and European Footballer of the Year 1968.
Club Career: Manchester United 1963 - 1974, Jewish Guild 1974, Stockport County 1975, Cork Celtic 1975 / 76, Fulham 1976 / 77, Los Angelles Aztecs 1976 / 78, Hibernian 1979 / 80, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1979 / 81, San Jose Earthquakes 1979 / 81, Bournemouth 1983, Brisbane Lions 1983 ... & Glentoran FC - a game at the Oval to mark our Centenary, versus Manchester United, 14th August 1982.
Glenavon game - First opportunity to lock horns with former Glentoran assistant manager Jimmy Brown. Despite an awful start to the season when the Lurgan Blues lost all 6 of their CIS League Cup group fixtures, they now seem to have turned the corner somewhat, sitting 5th in the Premier League Table having only lost 2 from 9. A win tomorrow for the Belfast Glens however would be a massive 3 points, with linfield playing the hillbillies at the swamp!
Ballymac's bus departs Wilgar Street at 1.45pm if you fancy tagging along, other buses at the link above.
Match Betting: Glenavon 4/1, Glentoran 4/6, and a draw 9/4. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers.
24th Nov 05. Derry City 2 Glentoran 1 - Far too friendly if you ask me. No Locky or Halliday tonight (err, last night, it's 1.00am :-), with Ward, Morgan & Ryan Berry only featuring as second half subs. Stephen Parkhouse's first half strike gave the Glens the lead for about 10 minutes, before Derry, it has to be said deservedly, equalized. The Candystripes were the better side of the first half. Second period I thought we were the better team, although Elliott Morris would probably have been the busier keeper throughout. The winner coming about 10 minutes from time. Biggest cheers of the night from both sets of fans though came only moments apart. Firstly from the Derry contingent, when just arrived substitute Liam Coyle won a midfield tussle with Gavin Melaugh and came away with the ball, then seconds later from the Glenmen, when the same ever so slightly overweight Coyle then fell flat on his gub hands-in-pockets-like when his legs wouldn't keep up! Cue the pie song! A decent run out but nothing more, and around a coupl'a hundred Glenmen there to watch.
23rd Nov 05. Thanks a Million ... well half a million anyway ;-) August 2000, and there were quite a few Glentoran websites online even in those days. 'The Rafter's site, the wee man pissin on the linfield crest, Internet GSC I think were still running 'Glentoran.com', and Chris Irvine's 'London Glens' the main ones on offer - all now sadly gone. I knew precious little about building websites back then, but encouraged by what I saw got some advise from Chris and started building BallymacGSC.com using a company called 'Homestead'. They make it easy, I still use them now ... over 5 years later!
I remember my first offering, the big launch, I thought it was great ... looking back now it was actually pretty crap! But I stuck at it while others came and went, learned a wee bit more about the game, and watched the counter as the visitors started to climb. Sometime today that counter is going to reach half a million ... Never in my wildest dreams!
Glentoran have reached 14 Finals and won 10 of them in the time this site's been online, sold the Oval and won their first ever away tie in a European competition, I've been privileged to report on it all. I was even offered the Official website a while back ... but somehow I just didn't think it was me ;-) Of course I could still see it all far enough sometimes, but you see it's become more than just a website now. There may not be as many photos and match reports as in the past, but then there are new Glens offerings online now, other fans with that same energy I had when I started all those years ago. It gets harder to find the same time nowadays, with other commitments like 'Rest in East' and now the new Community Trust demanding so much of it ... ironically both I suppose a direct result in someways of this very website! But I like to believe now after over 5¼ years without a break, BallymacGSC.com has earned it's place in the Glentoran community. The number of friends I have made through this site, the number of friends who have made friends through this site, for that alone it has all been worth it ... not to mention of course there was always the chance to do a bit of bluedog bashing ;-)
There are so many people I want to thank out there I won't even start, suffice to say I'm delighted to have been of service.
It has been a wonderful journey together and a pleasure. I don't suppose I could close it down now even if I wanted!
Roll on the million ;-)
22nd Nov 05. 100 more concessions - After the understandable uproar from Glentoran fans re the conditions regarding concession tickets for Saturday week's CIS League Cup Final, the IFA have relented to a further 100 at £5 a time being made available for the North Stand Upper Deck. On sale to over 65's and under 16's, apparently they will be clearly marked for use in the upper deck only ... unlike the other 1,000 £5 tickets already on sale that can be bought by err ... over 65's and under 16's, and any adults accompanying them for use in the 'lower' deck only - that clear enough? Honest to Christ!
Derry City game - Remember folks, the Ballymac are running a bus to the Derry City friendly at the Brandywell on Wednesday night. Initially a seat on the bus was by reservation only, but it would appear the game has failed to capture the imagination of the away support and ticket sales are very slow. We are still running a bus, but you can now turn up at the Wilgar Street clubrooms on the night if you need a lift - departure time is 5.45pm.
21st Nov 05. Definitely OnTheBall ! - I know I've harped on about this one before, but if you haven't already done so, you really ought to be having a look at the RUOnTheBall.com football tips website advertised above. 15 weeks into the new season now and they've already had 8 winners, and the last 4 weeks on the trot!! If you'd been subscribing from the start like me you'd now be over £500 in profit... if I don't get another winner from now til the end of the season I'll STILL be up nearly £200! No guarantees of course, but on this sort of form it's money from America - Definitely worth another look!
20th Nov 05. Newry City 1 Glentoran 3 - JeeeeeeeeeeZUS! ... was that hard work or what! Gavin Melaugh (2) & Browne. Man of the match - Elliott Morris!
18th Nov 05, 9.45pm. Cork Champions! - Cork City have just been crowned Champions of the Eircom League. Their 2-0 victory over Derry City tonight at Turners Cross sent the Candystripes back to second and runners-up spot, 2 points adrift. Shelbourne finished the season with a 3-0 win at Bohemians, but had to settle for third spot, some 5 points further back.
Newry City game - Bit of a strange one tomorrow, Newry have had an indifferent start to the season to say the least. They reached the knock-out stages of the League Cup, losing just a single game and finishing runners-up in a group that included Portadown, Ballymena and Glenavon, only to come a cropper against yours truly 2-1 at the Oval in the quarter-final. Their League form though has really been up and down. Eight games in and they've lost 4, drew 2 and won 2, been hammered 5-1 by Portadown yet only last week put 5 themselves past Institute! They now find themselves in 12th spot on 8 points ... some 12 behind the Glens after only 8 games played. Eventful if nothing else. Looking back over the records doesn't augur too well for them tomorrow either, it's actually been all of 19 games since Newry last tasted victory over the Glens, that 1-0 win coming in the first leg of a Gold Cup semi-final at the Oval just over 5 years ago! We won the second leg 3-1 down there, before going on to beat Coleraine 4-3 in the Final at the swamp (Remember that night! :-) It must be said though, they won't have a better chance to put that record straight than tomorrow, God knows what sort of team we'll have out! Anyways, you gotta think the scum and hillbillies will come through at home to Armagh and Dungannon in their fixtures, so at the end of the day it has to be another 3 points to keep in touch til we get some of those players back. Ballymac's bus leaves Wilgar Street at 1.30pm if you fancy tagging along, other buses at the link above. Here we go again.
Match Betting: Newry 5/1, Glentoran 8/15, and a draw 5/2. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers.
CIS League Cup Final tickets are now on sale at the usual outlets.
16th Nov 05. Setanta Cup - Shelbourne, and either Drogheda United or Bohemians will make up the Setanta Cup.
CIS Final? Surprise Surprise ... it's the swamp! - Sure it wouldn't be fair if it were anywhere else eh! The League Cup Final with linfield on November 3rd will also be a 2.30pm kick-off to accomodate BBC's 'live' coverage. No tickets are available yet, but when they are we can expect 3,000 for the Upper Deck of the North Stand @ £10 a head, and 1,000 tickets at a fiver for the Lower Deck, strictly for families (Adults must be accompanied by a child), pensioners, and under 16's. Meanwhile this final, as with last night's Northern Ireland / Portugal game, will no doubt see us all continue to throw 15% of our gate-money to a single Irish League club ... while the National Stadium debate rumbles on ...
15th Nov 05. Chris Walker Benefit - Big Chris's Benefit Committee invite you all to a quiz night at the Ballymac GSC clubrooms on Friday 25th November. Teams up to a maximum of 4 persons are welcome to take part at a cost of £10 per team. It's open to all, contact a member of the Benefit Committee to enter or simply turn up on the night - kick-off 8pm.
Setanta Cup - This seasons Setanta Cup will kick-off on Monday 20th February 2006. Four teams from the Irish League (Glentoran, Portadown, linfield & Dungannon Swifts) and four from the Eircom League (Derry City, Cork City & 2 yet to be decided) will combine to make up two groups of 4 - the top 2 from each group going through to the knock-out stages. The semi-finals then take place on 10th & 11th April (the beginning of a week we play both linfield & Portadown in the League), hardly ideal, while the Final takes place on Saturday April 22nd. Depending who gets to the Final dictates the venue.
13th Nov 05. Glentoran 5 Larne 1
11th Nov 05. Larne game - Second bottom of the Premier League table with only 2 points, Larne come to the Oval tomorrow having lost all 4 ties against the Glens since being brought back into the top flight 3 seasons ago. Indeed in those 4 failed attempts the Inver Park men have found the net only once, while shipping a whopping 13 in reply! Life's been tough for Jimmy McGeough's (now Kenny Shiels) side elsewhere this season too. Despite accounting for juniors Kilmore Rec in the County Antrim Shield, Larne only managed a single win in their 6 CIS Cup ties, and to date only 2 draws in the Premier League ... notably though, both 1-1's, and came in their last 3. Without being too complacent though, you'd like to think the Glens would have too much for them at the Oval, especially coming off the high of reaching the League Cup Final midweek. I expect the squad to be along similar lines for tomorrows game, with the exception of maybe Parkhouse coming back if he's over the cowl. With Portadown and the scum away at Armagh & Dungannon, we really need to rack up another 3 points to keep up the pressure - interesting to note, still only November and the gap between 1st and 4th place has already grown to 7 points! Match Betting: Glentoran 1/4, Larne 10/1, and a draw 7/2. All odds supplied by TOALS.
9th Nov 05. Derry City game - Ballymac WILL be running a bus to the Derry City friendly on Nov 23rd - departure time from Wilgar Street will be around 5.45pm. Further details to follow, but if you do decide to travel with us you WILL need to purchase your own match ticket, which I believe will be £5 across the board.
Roll on December 3rd! - Absolutely delighted after last night's result, a real 'roll up the sleeves' display. And for all the huff and puff of the Hillbillies last night, I can honestly say Elliott Morris had nothing to do from conceding in the 46th minute, until he was called upon right at the death (4 minutes into injury time at the end of extra time actually) with a superb save. Contrast that with Ports (or should that be PORTLY ;-) keeper David Miskelly, who was beating them out with whatever he could get in the way all night long. Not to mention both the bar and post coming to his rescue, some desperate clearances off his line, and some very dodgy decisions from referee Davy Malcolm when on another night 3 or 4 penalties could quite easily have been given for hand-ball. At the end of the day Portadown can have no complaints, had they levelled the tie in those closing stages it would have been a grave injustice on a Glens side who with a little luck would have been outta sight by the close of 90 minutes. How big Michael missed that one ... ! Anyway's, yet another cup final to look forward to on December 3rd, and although we are still not performing to our best, that's 16 domestic games under our belts now and still undefeated. Having Peter McCann and wee Scotty available again is going to prove decisive in the coming weeks. Big Chris tells me he'll be back before Christmas. Roll on Larne this Saturday
8th Nov 05, 10.40pm. Glentoran 2 Portadown 1 (aet)
League Cup Semi-Final - First big final of the season just 90 minutes away now, and the opportunity to retain one trophy which has been very good to us this millenium - lost only one game in this competition in the last 6 years! (remember last years final? HERE) Portadown will have other thoughts of course, and have become something of a 'bogey' team for the Glens this last few years, but hey, NOBODY looks forward to playing the wee Cock n' Hens in a Cup competition, no matter what they say! Won't matter who's fit for this one, it's a semi-final, we've been there many many times before. Kick-off's 7.45pm, and there has to be a winner - extra-time and penalties if required. Ballymac have a bus leaving Wilgar Street at 6.45 if you want a lift. Looking forward to it, let's see how good we really are!
Match Betting: Glentoran 11/8, Portadown 7/4, and a draw 11/5. All odds by TOALS.
5th Nov 05. Institute 1 Glentoran 3 - Just how I like to see it folks, sleeves rolled up when you're down to the bare bones. One-nil down early on to an absolute BEEZER of a chip 25 yards out from ex-Glenman Tommy McCallion (against the run of play I might add), before the penny well and truly dropped! Nicky (Captain for the day), made it one-each with a quality back post header. Then right on the half-time blower Chrissy Morgan (on from the start) put the Glens in the lead with a close range shot ... ish. On another day it must be said Locky would'a had a beg full!! He headed them here, he headed them there, he headed them every f****** where, but never got the goal his play most certainly deserved. Anyway - Gary Browne spoiled the day when he slid number 3 past the Institute goalie about two weeks from the end and turned the remainder of the game into a formality... I seem to remember Nicky and Tim McCann doin something similar up here a few years ago ;-) Referee Mark Courtney was shocking by the way!
2nd Nov 05. Open Fans Forum - CAMBRIDGE ROOMS, PARK AVENUE HOTEL, tomorrow night @7.45pm ...
Whether you are in a supporters club or just tag along to the game with a few mates. Whether you are a season ticket holder or just go to a couple of matches a year. Whether you are 9 years of age or 89! Even if you simply live in East Belfast and have an interest in what's going on in your area ... THIS INVOLVES YOU! YOU ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE OF GLENTORAN FC, TOMORROW NIGHT IS AN OPEN FORUM, YOU ARE ALL INVITED ALONG TO HAVE YOUR SAY!
1st Nov 05. Shield quarter-final draw - Glentoran v Lisburn Distillery, the Oval Tuesday 29 November, kick-off 7.30pm. Other ties ... Ards v Linfield, Crusaders v Larne, Ballymena Utd v Cliftonville
