30th Sept 04, 11.10pm. DISASTER! ... and no I don't mean tonight's meeting at the Park Avenue - Scott Young has once again broken his leg! It happened at training tonight, apparently a nothing tackle by wee Tommy McCallion, saw Tommy's knee catch Scotty on the follow through. Latest I hear from the hospital, although unconfirmed, is that Scott's leg is broken in the exact same place. Whatever, it's a nightmare for the wee man who has played for the Seconds in the last couple of matches, and was hopeful of making a frist team comeback any time :-(
Q & A at the old P A :-) Meeting starts at 7.30pm tonight folks, when will it end? - you tell me. I'd expect fairly late! That being the case you'll probably have to wait till tomorrow for your ounce of flesh. I'll be at it, but I don't intend sittin up all night with a code book when I get home :-) Rest assured most of the questions we want answers to WILL be asked, whether or not you'll all be satisfied with the answers ... well that remains to be seen. You live in hope.
28th Sept 04. Glentoran 1 Ballymena Utd 0 - Michael Halliday once again to the rescue, some 15 minutes into the second half. Chris Morgan calmly dropping the shoulder to sell Gary Smyth a dummy out on the right wing, then squares the ball to the 'Doc' on the penalty spot who dispatches it first time for the winner. A fairly entertaining match, as is usually the case when Ballymena are in town, but I thought the Glens were worthy winners on the night despite Shea Campbell hitting the bar for the visitors in the first half. Truth be told that effort came on the break, Campbell shooting over Elliott Morris's head on the gallop, only to see it cannon back into the path of Tim McCann who thankfully volleyed it wide of the far post. But the Glens bossed the game from the start, without it must be said forcing the keeper into too much work - most of the attempts on goal were either high or wide of the mark. Miss of the night though came just before our goal, how Damien McLoughlin & co contrived to miss while the ball danced along the Ballymena goal-line is beyond me, no wonder they all ended up holding their heads in disbelief! Coyler replaced Chris Morgan with Kevin Keegan with about 20 minutes left, to a chorus of boos from the fans, Morgan was having his best game in a while, and just to confound the managers decision CIS awarded him 'Man of the Match' shortly after! No matter, everyone seemed to try an awful lot harder tonight, and at the end of the day a win is a win - after Saturday I'll settle for that. Into the semi-finals ... who's next?
Wanna laugh :-) .... HERE
League Cup Quarter-Final - Glentoran v Ballymena United at the Oval, a repeat of the Semi-Final in this competition 2 years ago, and what a cracker of a game that one was! 5-3 we finished up winning that night, what would you give for another one of those! An early return too for former Glenmen Gary Smyth and Tim McCann, it's gonna seem strange watching the lads run out for the opposition - much as they'll always be welcome, let's hope they have an off day. But what about us then eh, after that absolute shambles on Saturday - there'll need to be one or two individuals gettin the finger out this time won't there. No excuses tonight, we've only lost a solitary game in this competition since the turn of the century, and that was in the final of 2001. With home advantage I fully expect us to keep that impressive record up.
BTW - 7.45pm kick-off tonight folks, and season-tickets are NOT valid.
Match Betting: Glentoran 8/15, Ballymena 5/1, and a draw 5/2. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
27th Sept 04. One step forward - TWO STEPS BACK! Davy Chick in my opinion is most certainly NOT the man to unite Glentoran FC and their fans. Is nobody listening to us? You are so out of touch Glens it's unreal!!! Cya Thursday.
26th Sept 04. Told ya he hadn't gone away! - The position of honorary President is the highest accolade in my opinion that any club or organization can bestow, I know in my club it's a decision that's given some very serious thought every year at our AGM. Usually an honour like that would go to someone held by all with the highest regard, someone you trust and admire, someone who commands, and deserves, the utmost respect, the sort of person who has served you well for many many years and you can rely on to represent you to the full ... someone who above all else has unstinting loyalty to your club ... someone like the late Johnston Nelson.
Glentoran FC yesterday in their wisdom awarded that highest of all honours to David Chick.
Run me a hot bath luv, and leave out the razor....
Glentoran 1 Portadown 2 - S H ONE T E!
24th Sept 04. Portadown game - FINALLY! The League Championship begins! And what a cracker of a tie to kick it off.
No distractions for Ronnie McFall's outfit tomorrow either, having just been knocked out of the League Cup on Tuesday night, only gaining a draw at home to Dungannon Swifts and finishing third in their group! That'll count for nothing tomorrow though, I reckon the Glens will be involved in about three or four '6-pointers' at the Oval this season ... and this is most definitely one of them! Portadown are one of the teams being tipped to be up there along with ourselves come the end of this competition, but we're gonna have to do a bit better than we did against them last season if that's to happen. Twice we played the Ports in the League last time, and on both occasions we lost 2-1. Circumstances though are HOPEFULLY a little different when we kick-off for this one ... remember? So, forget about the last few weeks folks, this is when it really counts. Quite a few players are still missing through injury, Parkhouse, McCann, Young, Walker, even Locky's name got a mention this week (what's new :-), but you can bet each and every one of those names will play a vital part at some stage over the next seven months, if we are indeed to put to rest the ghost of last season. Are we gonna be good enough ... ? COURSE WE ******* ARE !! :-)
22nd Sept 04. Feedback - With the welcome announcement of a new Glentoran forum next week, I'm sure some of you not affiliated to any Supporters Club will once again feel a bit 'left out'. I'm told the Glens are very happy to invite individual supporters along to future meetings, but understandably would be keen to avoid the risk of it descending into a 'slagging match', which in the event of an 'open' invitation would no doubt be a real possibility! With this in mind I've opened a thread on the site's forum page, inviting your suggestions as to how some sort of selection process might take place, whereby at least some 'unattached' supporters might be invited along to future question and answer sessions ...
21st Sept 04. Fans invite to new forum - Invitations are in the post to a fans forum next week at the Park Avenue Hotel. A decision was made at Monday nights Board meeting to invite 2 members from each of the Official Glentoran Supporters Clubs, to attend an open forum on Thursday 30th September. Chaired by Glens Chairman Stafford Reynolds and Chief Executive Tom Dick, I'm told that unlike the infamous 'Gary Smyth' meeting, this time there will be strictly NO AGENDA, we're promised ANY and ALL fans concerns regarding Glentoran FC can be addressed on the night, with an undertaking to give accurate and honest answers where possible. I'm also told if the meeting proves to be a success, plans are to host the event twice-yearly, and extend invitations to a broader range of supporters and venues. Should be very interesting!
10.10pm. Glentoran 1 Coleraine 1 - Don't think anybody will be too surprised by this result, a total waste of time.
In a nutshell ... Damien McLoughlin with an absolute cracker about 22 minutes in, cut in near the corner of the 18 yard box and curled a beauty past Davy O'Hare and into the top corner to put us one up. Damien and Mark Glendinning had further goals ruled out for offside before the break, but to be perfectly honest half the Glens team looked to be going through the motions. It was all square just before half-time when Gary Haveron fired one into the bottom corner from 20 yards, and bar a lot of huffing and puffing in the second half that was about that! The high wind didn't help it has to be said, but on effort alone it would be hard to say Coleraine didn't dreserve their point and a place alongside us in the quarter finals.
Andy enough - Anyone else notice Andy Kirk scored on his debut for Boston United at the weekend?
Coleraine game - Last game of the group ... thankfully! Not a thing for us to play for tonight, already group winners, and I'm sure one eye on the big League opener against Portadown this Saturday. Whether the manager decides to rest a few for this one we'll have to wait and see, one thing's for sure, there'll be no risks taken. Coleraine meanwhile will have other things on their mind, having recovered somewhat since that 3-nil beating we gave them up at their place in the opening fixture. They've beaten Omagh twice and won and lost to Newry since that night, to leave themselves only needing a point from the Oval tonight to be sure of second spot in the group and a quarter-final spot themselves - there'll be no taking it easy from them. So, a strange one this, be nice to keep the winning run going, and quite frankly I see no reason to believe we won't ... I just don't envisage me having too much trouble finding a seat. Kick off is 7.45.
19th Sept 04. Newry City 0 Glentoran 4 - What did I tell you about that friggin weather ... woke up yesterday morning - bright sunshine. Goes out and cuts the grass - even brighter sunshine. Drives all the way to Newry - what a cracker day, curses the fact I've forgotten my shades. Parks the car right outside the Newry Showgrounds ... AND GETS ****IN NEARLY DROWNED WALKING THE 100 YARDS TO THE TURNSTILES!!! The guy then says '6 quid each pal', an endless stream of water now dripping off the end of my nose I give him a twenty quid note for two ... you'd have thought it was a hundred Swedish Kroner!! A look that would scare yee (remember Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining), a grunt, then a shuffle through a big red beg under the counter, he produces a 1935 Isle of Man fiver and three ten bob bits! I finally get my arse settled into a seat in the stand and the sun comes out again ... Hellllloooooooo! ... Brigadoon!!
Match report has now been moved HERE
17th Sept 04. Newry City game - Not entirely a pointless exercise this - were we to lose our last 2 games in this group, and both Newry and Coleraine to win theirs by a fair margin, contrary to what you may have read elsewhere we could still fail to qualify for the knock-out stages of this competition ... but then again, another way to look at it, a draw tomorrow and we've won the group :-) Another thing, you know the way there are some Irish League grounds you like going to more than others? Well on the flip side, what's the chances of gettin the two you hate the most on the bloody trot eh! God don't ya just hate goin to Newry, what time's the friggin rain due on for this one!
Anyway, the game. We all know big Parky's gonna be out for a bit now, mixed feelings indeed for Chris Morgan, he must be thinking it's his birthday! It's no secret Chris has been third choice striker lately, well what a chance for him now eh. Other walking wounded from last week, Pat McGibbon and Elliott Morris, may well be fit enough to return, although Coyler may be tempted to give McGibbon a further rest, and stick with Gavin Melaugh at right back with Nicky in the middle. Tim McCann and Chris Walker came through the seconds Steel & Sons Cup tie at Carrick last week unscathed, so we may yet have a few defensive options on the way. Midfield will be 'as you were', spoiled for choice we are at the minute. Let's just hope though they're not as kind to Newry this time as they were a couple of weeks back, two goals down with 20 minutes left to play is most definitely NOT good for the old 'Bangors'!! No doubt I'll see you there - now where's that brolly!
Ballymac's bus leaves Wilgar Street at 1.45pm, and all visitors are welcome. Other buses can be found at the link above.
Match betting: Newry City 11/4, Glentoran 10/11, and a draw 9/4. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers.
16th Sept 04. Elfs in Croatia - IF Elfsborg play Dinamo Zagreb tonight folks in the 1st round proper of the UEFA Cup. Be interesting to see how the team we almost knocked out of the competition perform. Ko 7.15 uk time, live scores above.
Update: Elfsborg must overcome tonight's 2-0 defeat if they are to reach the group stage of the UEFA Cup. But good aul Shelbourne do it again, 2-0 down at half-time in Dublin to French outfit Lille, only to claw it back to 2-2 and all to play for in France! Our old friends Wisla Krakow did it the hard way at home too, also 2-0 down at half-time, this time to Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi, but running out 4-3 winners thanks to 4 goals in a 16 minute burst!
15th Sept 04. Rotterdam? ... Well wait and see - The announcement of an invitation to the Glens to compete in a tournament in Rotterdam next May has been greeted with more than a hint of 'euphoria' after our recent summer exploits in Finland and Sweden. Games against Feyenoord & Rotterdam? Great stuff I say, the more the merrier, but then again I won't be playing! Bearing in mind that in April we are already commited to at least 4 extra games in the North/South 'Setanta' Cup, hopefully still be involved in the Irish Cup, while every league game is a must win as the Championship draws to a close ... the players would probably sooner look forward to a fortnight in Lloret de Mar! We'll wait and see eh?
But sure if hardy comes to hardy we could always send the Seconds ... err ... we'll still have a Seconds then won't we?
Look out Geordie ... Et tu, Brute!
BTW - I suppose now we've got the annual 'feel good' announcement out of the way, we can expect the AGM anytime ;-)
14th Sept 04. Seconds v Killyleagh - Glentoran Seconds are going to have to do it the hard way if they are to progress in this season's Steel & Sons Cup. The wee Glens have been drawn against last years beaten finalists, and 2002 winners Killyleagh YC in the last 16 of the competition. The match is at the Oval on Oct 2nd, and will be played to a finish.
13th Sept 04. Parky out for a month! - It has been confirmed that Stephen Parkhouse will be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks after that awful tackle on him at Omagh on Saturday. During the game Glens physio John Weatherup told me he feared Parky could have picked up some ligament damage, but after a trip to hospital for an x-ray, it turns out the big man actually has a hairline fracture of the knee. I was right beside the incident during the first half on Saturday, and the sound of the crack when the tackle went right through Parky on the touch-line had me fearing a lot worse. He's a very lucky man.
12th Sept 04. Omagh Town 2 Glentoran 5 - Match report now moved HERE
Let's not forget ... the Seconds by the way, with Chris Walker and Tim McCann in the side at Carrick Rangers, they also ran out 5-2 winners on the day. Through to the last 16 of the Steel and Sons Cup, well done indeed - terrific stuff :-)
11th Sept 04. Nightmare? - Woke up in a cold sweat this morning - was dreaming of happy days and 'total football' in sunny Milton Keynes, across the seas to the mystic cities of Tallinn, Helsinki & Gothenburg, before a green & white army descended on Cardiff's wonderful Millenium Stadium ... then all of a sudden Saint Julians Road appeared!!! Aaaagggghhhhhhh!
10th Sept 04. Steel & Sons Cup - Any of you can't make the early start for Omagh tomorrow, might wanna consider heading off to Taylors Avenue later on instead. The Glens Seconds are away to Carrick Rangers in what should be a cracker of a 3rd round tie in this years Steel & Sons Cup. Kick-off far as I'm aware is 3 o'clock.
Omagh Town game - Don't have the time to do any sort of in-depth preview of this one folks, still busted after the Cardiff trip, and she's doin ma head in! Anyway, dead simple this one, a win and we're as good as qualified for the knock-out stages at the expence of our opponents who'd then go out. Bit much to expect a repeat of our 4-nil win over the same team last week, but I'm sure the Glens will just be glad to get a game after 10 days break. Cya there :-)
Match betting: Omagh Town 5/1, Glentoran 8/15, and a draw 5/2. All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
6th Sept 04. Off again :-) One of the real spin-offs with following the Glens, is that you become so adept at picking up different languages. 'Yakee-da boyo ... ' Glens shirt, inflatable leek, skin-tight trousers & Tom Jones CD's all packed, Cardiff here we come - "It's not unusual ..... " yee haw, cya's Friday :-)
5th Sept 04. Catch up on any Swedish soaps while you were away? ... HERE
Northern Ireland 0 Poland 3 - Well at least we now hold the record for one thing ... the shortest World Cup campaign ever - 3 minutes! I'm afraid all the passion and endeavour in the World is no substitute for ability. Awful !!!
4th Sept 04. Mon Norn Iron! - It doesn't get much better than following my beloved Glens, but a trip to the World Cup Finals every 4 years comes mighty close. The last 4 on the trot I've been to, a truly wonderful experience that every football fan in the world should sample at least once in their lifetime. Maybe one of these years I'll actually be able to go and watch my own country play. A win against Poland today would certainly be a step in the right direction ... a team in green winning at the swamp? I mean how hard can it be :-)
2nd Sept 04. Page 1 and 2 of Elfsborg pics now online ...
300,000 and counting! - Some time today folks we're gonna break through the 300k mark on the site's hit-counter. Unbelievable when you think how chuffed I was to hit the quarter of a million mark, and that was just 4 months ago!!
4 to 500 visits a day now, 350 of you on the mailing list, what started off a bit of a hobby is fast becoming a full time occupation! Well I'll make you a promise, you keep coming back, and as long as the walls have ears down Mersey Street I'll keep tellin it how it is. Big Tommy keeps givin me the photo's, and I'll keep stickin them online ... many thanks for all your support over the years, and sure between us all, we'll do our best to keep the Glens honest eh :-) Glentoran till I die.
1st Sept 04. Elfsborg pics - Just got hold of Tommy Sewell's photo's from the Sweden trip folks, and there are plenty of snaps of you the fans among them too. Bit busy this week, but soon as I get a chance I'll have them online. BTW, if YOU
have any good'uns, send them in, I'll use as many of the best one's I can ... keep lookin in :-)
