As preseason draws near, we can now give an update on the playing squad for the new season. Manager Nathan McConnell can confirm that 12 players have departed in the close season, with 8 retained, and 9 new signings so far.
The manager and everyone at the Club would like to thank the departing players for their efforts during their time with the Comrades, and wish them well with their future footballing endeavours.
The following players are leaving at the expiration of their contracts:
Lee McCune,
Brandon Doyle,
Paul Finnegan,
Deaglan Healy,
Jack Berry,
Eddie Shaw,
Dylan Snodden,
Poddy McVicker,
Fiontan O’Boyle,
Jude Simms.
The following players return to Crusaders after a loan spell with us:
Karter Bond,
Ryan Donnelly.
Thank you all for your hard work and commitment in your time with Ballyclare Comrades.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Ryan McMenemy from Coagh United. Ryan made 158 appearances for Coagh after moving from Dungannon United Youth, scoring 30 times. Ryan is also a Fustal international for Northern Ireland, alongside fellow Comrade Nathan Best. First team manager Nathan McConnnell had this to say about our latest signing,
Ryan is another excellent addition to our squad. He gives us further attacking options in a number of positions at the top end of the pitch and I’m sure the supporters will enjoy watching him in a red shirt. Having spent the last 5 seasons at Coagh he felt now was the right time for a new challenge and we are delighted that he has chosen Ballyclare Comrades to do so. His professional attitude and temperament on and off the field are exactly the type of character we want to attract to this club.
We are delighted to announce the signing of two more players this evening, ahead of preseason starting back on Saturday.
Striker, Lewis Mearns, has signed from Harryville Homers, after having spells in the Championship and PIL. First team manager Nathan McConnell has worked previously with Lewis, and had this to say about our new striker,
Lewis is a striker that I have known for quite a few years having kept a close eye on his career and development.
We first worked together during my time at Ballymena United where he was a young player coming through the Academy System and playing in the under 18 and under 20s. It was clear, even then, the hunger and desire to improve his game and establish himself at the highest level he could.
After spells at the Welders and Coagh in the Championship and PIL he felt a couple of seasons with his local team Harryville Homers would be beneficial. This has turned out to be the case where he produced a goal return of 34 goals in 36 games last season and subsequently finished top scorer in the BSML.
We feel we can now give Lewis the platform to establish himself at the next level and we are delighted he has chosen Ballyclare Comrades to do so.
Zach Anderson joins us from Linfield
Zach Anderson, an exciting winger, has also moved to the Comrades, having been at Linfield Swifts. Zach is another player Nathan has worked with,
Zach is a wide player that I have known for the past 3 seasons having worked alongside, and watched develop under the coaching and management of Jamie Mulgrew and Michael Gault at Linfield. He is a very versatile player who can play of both sides of the pitch and has a keen eye for goal having finished top scorer this year for Linfield Swifts.
We feel that now is the right time for him to move forward in his career and establish himself in the senior game and we pleased that he has chosen Ballyclare Comrades to do so .
Welcome to the Comrades lads, we look forward to seeing you in the red shirt this season!
We are delighted to announce the signing of centre back Logan Graham from Larne FC. Logan came through the youth setup at Larne, before joining Greenisland and then Glentoran, while also enrolling in the Irish FA’s JD Academy. Upon completion of that he returned to Larne as part of their Scholarship program. He was a mainstay at centre back in their U18 Harry Cavan Youth Cup winning side, and played for both the U18’s and U20’s, achieving league success as their U18 side were crowned NIFL Academy League champions.
Nathan McConnell spoke about his happiness at being able to bring Logan to Ballyclare Comrades:
We are delighted to be able to attract someone of Logan’s ability to Ballyclare Comrades. He has had a great football education under the guidance of Gary Haveron and Keith O’Hara at Larne FC and is now ready to establish himself in senior football. Defensively was an area we wanted to improve and increase the competition during the close season and we feel that Logan is the right player to do this. We are very much looking forward to see his development in a Comrades shirt.
We are pleased to announce the signing of Cameron Alexander for the upcoming season. Cameron is an exciting midfielder with a great engine, who the management team were keen to bring in to Ballyclare Comrades. Here’s what First Team Manager Nathan McConnell had to say about our latest signing,
Cameron was Young Player of the Year this season at Mossley in the Premier Amateur league. In recent games we were impressed by his excellent technical ability and we firmly believe is someone who will add real strength, depth and quality to our squad. His desire and hunger to pull on the Comrades shirt in the upcoming season was refreshing and we are very much looking forward to working with him.
We are delighted to confirm that Bobby Higgins has committed to the Comrades for another season. Bobby, a local lad who came through the ranks at Ballyclare Comrades, returned to us last summer, and cemented his place at the heart of our defence, taking his appearances for the club to over 100. First Team Manager, Nathan McConnell has also confirmed that Bobby will be the new club captain, and here’s what he had to say about Bobby taking over the captaincy,
When the club captaincy became available over the past few days there was no hesitation in who we wanted to lead this squad going forward. Bobby is Ballyclare Comrades through and through and we believe he is the right man to take over the armband. In the short space of time that Gary, Graeme and myself have been here we have been very impressed by how Bobby conducts himself both on and off the pitch. I’m sure the supporters and members of the club right down to the Academy will be delighted to see a local lad lead out the team each week and hopefully to success in the future.
We are pleased to confirm the signing of two players this evening, Ashton McDermott and Stuart Hutchinson. Ashton is no stranger to the Comrades, having played for us during the 21/22 season before moving to Knockbreda. Stuart joins us after making over 100 appearances for Warrenpoint.
Stuart Hutchinson joins Ballyclare Comrades
First Team Manager Nathan McConnell had this to say about the two latest additions to the squad,
We are absolutely delighted to secure the signatures of two very experienced and versatile players at this level. Both bring excellent levels of professionalism and very high standards and they are exactly the type of characters we want at this club going forward.
Ashton comes to us having recently played over 150 games for Knockbreda. His experience and know-how at this level will benefit our squad greatly but especially the younger members of the squad. His quality on the ball, high work-rate and commitment will be something the supporters will appreciate and enjoy seeing throughout the season in a Ballyclare shirt.
Stuart is a player who comes with a wealth of experience at all levels in this country having played for both Warrenpoint and Ballinamallard during various spells. He can deputise in two or three positions which will benefit the squad greatly going forward. Alongside his excellent leadership qualities the supporters will enjoy watching an excellent footballer in a comrades shirt and they will be delighted he has chosen Dixon Park to further his football career.
Welcome back Ashton, and welcome to Dixon Park Stuart, we look forward to seeing you both this incoming season!
We are delighted to announce that Nathan Best has returned to Ballyclare Comrades. Nathan was with us for the first half of last season, before going to Lisburn Distillery. Nathan is a pacy winger, with good technical ability, who is also a Futsal International with Northern Ireland.
Here’s what First Team Manager Nathan McConnell had to say,
“We are absolutely delighted to bring Nathan back to Dixon Park. He returns to the club after a brief spell with Lisburn Distillery where his performances in the attacking areas caught the eye and we felt his qualities could certainly improve our team and squad. The supporters are getting a player who has a high work ethic, and a hunger to succeed and bring success to Ballyclare Comrades.”
We are pleased to announce that Ballyclare native Callum Cowan has joined the Comrades. Callum joins us from Harland & Wolff Welders, after coming through the Development Programme at Larne. Callum is a talented defender, and we look forward to seeing him develop with us.
First Team Manager Nathan McConnell had this to say about Callum signing, “We are absolutely delighted that Callum has decided to further his football career here with us at Ballyclare Comrades. Callum is a local lad and fits the profile to the type of player we want to attract to Ballyclare Comrades going forward.
He is a player that I have known and admired since his time at Linfield and Larne and when I knew of his availability and interest in coming to the Club we were determined to bring him to Dixon Park .
He already has shown his excellent technical ability and quality on the ball in the training sessions he has had with us and he will no doubt increase the competition within the squad and we are very much looking forward to working with him in pre season.”
