Category: Club News

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Barry Baggley as our new First Team Manager.

Barry joins us from Crewe United, having previously enjoyed two promotions during his six years at the helm at Rosario YC, taking them into the Premier Division of the Amateur League.

We will announce details on Barry’s backroom team in due course.

Barry spent some time at Dixon Park getting familiar with the facilities, and looking forward to getting started with the team, in the build up to next week’s game against Newry.

Ballyclare Comrades FC can confirm that Stephen Small has tendered his resignation, which the Club has reluctantly accepted.

Having joined The Comrades in March 2022, Stephen guided the team away from the threat of relegation and built an exciting young team, reaching back-to-back Irish Cup Quarter Finals and recording some notable league and cup victories during his tenure.

Stephen will remain in charge for tonight’s Playr-Fit Championship fixture against H&W Welders, but will depart after that.

We thank Stephen for all of his hard work during his time with us, and wish him and his staff nothing but the best for the future.

We will announce the application process for a new Manager later today.

Today is World Mental Health day, and NIFL, along with Action Mental Health have launched a new campaign this week called Statement Shirts. By wearing retro shirts fans are encouraged to start the conversation and break the stigma around mental health.

Club captain Cillin Gilmour, forward Brian Healy and midfielder Lee McGreevy donned a few retro shirts this week as part of the campaign promotion, and we caught up with Cillin afterwards to talk about mental health within the world of football locally.

“I think it’s a brilliant thing the league is doing and what the teams are buying in to. Obviously here in this country it is something that needs addressed and we say this every time this time of the year comes around  and we always repeat ourselves, but we repeat ourselves because something does have to be done and stuff like this really, really brings to light just how rife mental health issues are here.

You know, being part of a team like Ballyclare with a real great community around it,  with a real great team and coaching staff around it is something that helps so much. It’s an escape, it’s a happy place for me and the boys to go to on a Tuesday night, Thursday night, and on Saturday afternoon. Win, lose or draw for those 90 minutes, every time, football is the only thing on your mind, and that can be a great release of stress.

We have such a good group here in Ballyclare, where we do share our feelings with each other, we do talk to each other, when we’re down or when we’re upset, but it is something that that we could obviously do more of. I’m quite good expressing my emotions, and how I am feeling,  but a lot of time even when I am down, I don’t go quiet I do the complete opposite, I then become loud and real chatty, I almost mask it rather than just talking about it, and that is just sort of a coping mechanism for me. Obviously being a man, it’s that natural instinct in us to hide how we’re feeling if we are feeling down, and not wanting to talk about it and express our feelings to other people, so I think that a scheme like this that the league and the club are putting on, is a brilliant thing. I think everybody should really buy into this and it could be the start of something big.

I know that Davy McDaid, Jonny McMurray and Jeff Hughes are doing some brilliant, brilliant work at the minute with their Man On program so it is being brought forward quite a bit more than what it usually was, and I think it’s hugely important that the clubs, fans, players, everyone around clubs talk about this and buys into this. Hopefully this won’t just be a once a year thing, this will become an ongoing thing, a weekly thing and monthly thing as the boys are doing down at Larne with Davy, Jeff and Jonny.  This will be a start to address the whole mental health crisis here in this country because it is obviously a problem that we face.

If this only helps one person speak up about their problems rather than doing something extreme or harm themselves, whatever it may be, then it’s been an absolute massive success. It will hit home for people, a lot of people. 
Everyone’s been affected by suicide or self harm, you don’t know anyone nowadays who hasn’t been affected by it.

I’m really looking forward to seeing it over the weekend and for all the fans and the clubs to be posting about it, I think it’ll be a really, really brilliant thing and I think it will help help hundreds and hundreds of people.
”

If you are needing to talk so someone about anything that you are going through, then this page is a good place to start: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/get-help

We look forward to seeing the retro kits this weekend, and throughout the season.

The club would like to clear up today’s events and keep our fans well informed.

Today three players requested to leave the club, something that happens a lot at football clubs around the country. I must emphasise the club didn’t want to lose any of the three players, but two of the players cited lack of game time, and considering that we’re only two games into the season we’re disappointed they couldn’t be patient, but we understand that players just want to play football.

As for our captain requesting to leave, it is probably a difficult one for the fans to grasp. Gary had agreed to sign for the new season and was quoted as being really happy to be leading the team into a new era. Unfortunately, another club has since made Gary an offer, and he decided that’s the best move for him to make.

To you, our fans, the club are as disappointed with today’s departures as you are, and we will look to replace these players in the next 10 days.

As we often hear in sport, no one is bigger than the club itself, and we will move forward with those players who are committed to Ballyclare Comrades Football Club.

NIHIL NISI OPTIMI

James Kirk
Club Chairman

The centre forward joins the club from Knockbreda upon the opening of the registration window.

Marcus impressed last season scoring 11 goals in 15 games in the Championship.

Stephen Small had this to say, “I look forward to seeing Marcus add to our attacking options. He gives us another dimension as a striker.”

We held our end of season award ceremony on Friday 17th May, for our senior teams. For the first year our Under 18 players joined us.

We had a great evening at McConnells in Doagh, with over 100 in attendance.

Here’s the full list of winners:
U18 Top Goalscorer – Tiernan Floyd

U18 Most Improved – Kyle Fiddis

U18 Player’s Player of the Year – Reece Duff

U18 Player of the Year – Reece Duff

Ryan Tweedie Trophy for U21 Top Goalscorer – Michael Leetch & Danny Doyle

Raymond White Trophy for Most Improved U21 – Stuart Doyle

Michael Irvine Trophy for U21 Player’s Player of the Year – Cameron Moody

Pat McCourt Trophy for U21 Player of the Year – Jack Thompson

Archie Boyd Memorial Trophy for Supporters Club Clubperson of the Year – Zoe Tisdale

Supporters Club Player of the Year – Owen McConville

Jackie Patterson Memorial Trophy for Goal of the Season – Declan Breen

McMeekin Family Trophy for 1st Team Top Goalscorer – Darius Roohi

Josh Beggs Trophy for Young Player of the Year – Michael Morgan

Kirk Family Trophy for Player’s Player of the Year – Liam Hassin

Bobby Baird Trophy for Player of the Year – Gary Donnelly

Click on an image below to see the full gallery.

Work has kicked-off on the new 3G pitch at Dixon Park. This monumental development, made possible through the steadfast support of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, marks a significant milestone in the club’s history.

The project, made possible by £132,000 match funding from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, is a testament to the Council’s commitment to enhancing sports facilities across the Borough.

The Club is one of 17 sporting facilities in Northern Ireland to secure funding from the Irish FA and the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund, which aims to improve and refurbish facilities to create a better grassroots football infrastructure foundation.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating,

“Our commitment to investing in grassroots sports facilities is unmatched. We believe in the power of sports to bring communities together, and this substantial investment in Ballyclare Comrades Football Club’s new 3G pitch reflects our dedication to fostering a healthy and active lifestyle for our residents.”

Business Development Director at Ballyclare Comrades FC, Robert Fleck, was equally enthusiastic about the project, stating,

“This is an exciting time for the club. Over the last six years, we’ve grown from a traditional men’s football team into a community based club with over 550 members made up of boys and girls, men and women, ranging in age from 5 to 35. In addition, the club also has over 50 coaches and support staff.

We’re thankful that the Council has come on board to support this badly needed development, which will have a positive impact on Ballyclare and the surrounding areas. Last year we installed new floodlights and with other work we have brought the ground capacity up to 3,349. We are hopeful that the new 3G pitch scheduled to be completed by spring 2024 will help attract high profile games into the Borough.”

As well as £396,000 from the IFA and UK Government funds, and £132,000 from the Council, the club has taken out a loan of £145,000 to make this project happen. In addition, the club has future plans to build a new two-storey clubhouse which will also act as a community, health and well-being hub.

Pictured: Robert Fleck, Business Development Director at Ballyclare Comrades FC, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper,  Councillor Michael Stewart, Ballyclare Primary School pupil, Olivia Mawhinney, Councillor Helen Magill, and Councillor Vera McWilliam,

We are pleased to announce the signing of 19 year old Brian Healy on loan from Newry City until the end of the season. A forward player, Healy has made 16 appearances in the Sports Direct Premiership this season for City.

Manager Stephen Small commented: “Brian comes to us with Premiership pedigree as well as having been part of Newry’s Championship winning squad two seasons ago. He is strong, athletic and technical and will be a great attacking option as we enter a tough second half of the season.”

Brian will wear the number 16 jersey.