Ballyclare Comrades History

Dedicated to remembering the history of Ballyclare Comrades Football Club. Formed in 1919 by local men who had returned home from the First World War.

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October 1921 Alliance League Second Division fixtures, which included our game away at local rivals Cogry Mills on the 1st

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Gillian McKee from John G Fleming Chemists presents match ball sponsorship to our secretary Don Horner in January 2000

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Our 1988/89 B Division and
Smirnoff Cup winning team

Back row (L-R): Philip Brown,
Dennis Rodgers, Gerry Tabb, Brian McNulty, Billy Murray, Gary McCullough, Colin Murray

Front Row (L-R): Peter Dunlop,
Paul Hindes, Marty Clarke, Jim Smyth (captain), Harry McConkey, Eamonn Hill

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Present at our 1988/89 end of season dinner, were from left - Laurence Walker (manager), Norman Drennan (chairman), Sidney Cameron (president), Mrs Cameron, Billy Bissett (reserve team manager) and Dennis McKinstry (secretary)

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Manager Laurence Walker (left), coach David Lawther and trainer Pat McCourt pictured with our team who celebrated winning the B Division and Smirnoff Cup in 1988/89 at our end of season awards dinner in June 1989

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Another local newspaper piece about our 1988/89 end of season awards, which included our club presenting our guest of honour, local lad Tommy Wright, with a special award for earning his first international cap that season

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Gerry Tabb lifted most of the silverware at our end of season awards dinner after our double winning season of 1988/89

Our captain Jim Smyth won the Player of the Year

Local lad, new Northern Ireland goalkeeper Tommy Wright, handed out these awards

[Ballyclare Comrades History @BclarComHistory]

Gerry Tabb lifted most of the silverware at our end of season awards dinner after our double winning season of 1988/89

Our captain Jim Smyth won the Player of the Year

Local lad, new Northern Ireland goalkeeper Tommy Wright, handed out these awards

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Winners from our club's
Christmas Draw in December 1970

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The Ballyclare Comrades ladies committee, along with helpers, who organised a Christmas sale in the Carrera Ballroom in Ballyclare in December 1969

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On this day in 1989, we beat
Limavady United 1-0 at Allen Park in the Smirnoff Cup final to win our second trophy of the season, a week after winning the B Division championship

Buster Andrews scored in the 18th minute, heading home a Gary McCullough corner

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Piece in a local newspaper from
Tuesday 30th May 1989, previewing our Smirnoff Cup final against Limavady United

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A beginners class for football referees was held in our social club in February 1989, conducted by Jimmy Gibson (seated centre)

Participants were Jim Holmes,
Jeremy Higgins, Raymond Moore,
Ivan Higgins, David Best,
Desmond Higgins, John Wilson and Bob Turner

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On this day in 1989, having already clinched the B Division championship in midweek, we lost 3-1 away at runners-up Dundela, despite us taking a 1-0 half-time lead through a Buster Andrews header

Our captain Jim Smyth received the B Division championship trophy before this game

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Piece in a local newspaper from 6th May 1989 about us playing our home games at Allen Park the following season as our club were preparing to have Dixon Park ready for us joining the Irish League for the start of the 1990/91 season

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Piece in a local newspaper from
25th May 1989, talking about our upcoming Smirnoff Cup final against Limavady United

It also talks about the last time we met Limavady in a cup final, the Intermediate Cup final defeat in 1974, the same season we went on to win the B Division

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On this day in 1969, we won 2-0 away at Banbridge Town in the B Division

Sammy Clarke and John McKimm scored our goals in the second half

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On this day in 1989, we clinched the
B Division title, winning our 12th game in a row, 3-2 away at H&W Welders

Goals from Gerry Tabb and
Harry McConkey put us 2-0 up after 20 mins

Gary McCullough restored our lead 2 mins after Welders scored 2 in first 5 mins of second half

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As said at the end of this newspaper match report, our next game was a select XI against a Glentoran select XI, a game arranged as part of the Tommy Morrow transfer to Glentoran

This game finished 2-2, with us leading twice through Jim Thompson and Carrick Rangers' Chris Broad

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On this day in 1966, we came back from 1-0 down after five minutes to beat Portadown Reserves 3-1 at Dixon Park in the B Division, our last competitive game of the season

Our goals were scored by
Davy Turkington and Eddie Hanna and an Albert Mitchell penalty

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On this day in 1966, we came back from 1-0 down after five minutes to beat Portadown Reserves 3-1 at Dixon Park in the B Division, our last competitive game of the season

Our goals were scored by
Davy Turkington and Eddie Hanna and an Albert Mitchell penalty

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@G_GormleyCrues From April until the end of that season, we would play our final home games at Skegoneill Avenue, then the following season we would play our home games at Allen Park as the contractors were coming in to get Dixon Park ready for us joining the Irish League for the 1990/91 season

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On this day in 1989, we edged closer to the B Division title with a 4-0 win over Tobermore United at Skegonell Avenue, which took our unbeaten run to 13 games, 37 points out of a possible 39

Marty Clarke scored twice, with
Billy Murray and Peter Dunlop also getting on scoresheet