The senior men’s season may have reached its long-awaited conclusion, but that does not mean Corner By The Seaside will close with the curtain. Much is still, of course, going on around Bangor Football Club – and in this latest series, you can keep up to date on all of the goings-on around Clandeboye Park both on and off the pitch during the summer months.
In this iteration of ‘Seasider Summer Weekly’, to be released every Friday over the next 12 or so weeks, you will find previews ahead of a heated final sprint for Bangor Reserves – three games in all that David Downes’ charges will contest – and an in-depth report on a valiant endeavour in defeat by Bangor FC Ladies that continues the trend of a promising start to the new term for Ethan Boylan and his players. There is also post-match reaction from the boss following that affair with Ballyclare Comrades, while a re-run of Bangor’s Irish Cup triumph over Ards 30 years on also comes under the spotlight.
Firstly, the Reserves have a three-strong run of fixtures before pulling the curtain on their 2022/23 crusade.
This Saturday, the second string shall travel to Milltown where Warrenpoint, who have already been confirmed as division champions, will await them in their penultimate league outing this campaign (11am).
Thereafter, on Tuesday evening, the Seasiders make the trip to Ballyskeagh, as Lisburn Distillery prepare to roll out the red carpet (6:30pm) for the last time on a road dating back to September. But that is not all, given that they are back on their home turf again on Thursday when they entertain a select side from the University of Wisconsin (7:30pm).
It heartened boss Downes greatly to see so much youth involvement in the final clash of the senior men’s league season.
“Great end to the season all round”
Bangor Reserves manager David Downes was proud indeed to see several of his panel afforded first-team minutes against Tobermore United last week
With left-back Sam Millar included from the start, there were also features for fellow teens Charley Craig, Kristian Trainor, Curtis Kenny, Callum Mills and Sonny Redford in the panel of 18 selected by first-team supremo Lee Feeney against Tobermore United.
Millar, Craig and Kenny all made senior bows last Tuesday evening, and Under-20s chief Downes will be hoping that they can channel that positivity and energy into barnstorming accounts against The ‘Point.
The south Down club, who have a revered Academy system, find themselves still with four matches to contest prior to the finish line. But that they have already claimed top honours, gobbling up 59 of a possible 72 points available, speaks volumes about a high-quality set-up that will pose a stern challenge for those in yellow and blue.
Ryan McConville’s outfit will be determined to keep sounding the tune that they have been playing all along, requiring Bangor to be at their best.
Downes will then freshly rally his troops for a trip to New Grosvenor Park three days later, when seventh-placed Distillery will seek to leave their adventure having hit a high note.
The most recent meeting of these two historic institutions was documented by an exceptional show from 16-year-old sensation Redford, who struck four times and took the mantle of an end-to-end contest that culminated in a 5-3 success for the hosts at Clandeboye Park.
Handed his senior debut by Feeney just a few days later when Limavady United traversed for a midweek contest – the Premier Intermediate title having already been wrapped up – the striker, who entered the fray off the bench during that final-day encounter in Co Derry/Londonderry, has been in buzzing mood of late and in the type of form to do damage.
Player to watch:
After concluding the senior men’s season with a couple of appearances under his belt, Sonny Redford has been high-spirited and seen his consistently quality displays rewarded by first-team boss Lee Feeney. He will hope to produce the goods once more against Warrenpoint Town and Distillery. Image from Sarah Harkness.
There remains a prize at stake, too. With Newington and Ballymacash Rangers fulfilling their total league commitments this term, no worse than third-place can Bangor finish if two wins from two are sealed.
And with that university team from the USA due to visit, Downes will want the spirits up for next Thursday’s bash.
Meanwhile, Bangor FC Ladies tackled the challenge of Ballyclare Comrades in their latest engagement in the NIWFA Championship on Wednesday night, the third matchday of the league season.
Taking on an outfit who are widely expected to be in real promotion contention, Ethan Boylan took plenty of heart from a spirited account in what was to end up in a 2-4 home reverse.
“At the start, I think we just showed them a bit too much respect in those early stages, and backed off them a bit more than I would have wanted,” long-time supporters favourite Boylan reflected.
“They came out, had a game-plan and they started on the front foot. They put us under pressure and they scored the two goals in that dominant spell.
“They came out, had a game-plan and they started on the front foot. They put us under pressure and they scored the two goals in that dominant spell”
Bangor FC Ladies manager Ethan Boylan felt Ballyclare Comrades struck a decisive blow in a key period of the game
“I wouldn’t use the turn of phrase that we were necessarily like a rabbit in headlights to start the game, but we knew we’d be coming up against one of the best teams in the league and we maybe showed them a little bit too much respect from that point of view.
“It took a couple of strong words from us too, but I felt we came out motivated and wanting to give a good response, and we did that. We got more of a foothold back in and started to play a bit, it was a positive reaction and to go in level at half time, I felt we’d earned it.”
The quotes section:
“I wouldn’t use the turn of phrase that we were necessarily like a rabbit in headlights to start the game, but we knew we’d be coming up against one of the best teams in the league and we maybe showed them a little bit too much respect from that point of view. It took a couple of strong words from us too, but I felt we came out motivated and wanting to give a good response, and we did that. We got more of a foothold back in and started to play a bit, it was a positive reaction and to go in level at half time, I felt we’d earned it” – Bangor FC Ladies boss Ethan Boylan felt his side gave the perfect reaction to going behind early doors.
Boylan, who was appointed boss in January, continued: “I think when you’ve the opposition manager saying to you when you’re going over to shake their hand, you know, ‘good game, that was a tough battle out there’, then it tells you that you’ve done something right in the game, and I was really happy with the character we showed.
“It tells you that you’ve done something right in the game, and I was really happy with the character we showed”
Bangor FC Ladies manager Ethan Boylan was impressed with the attitude and application of his players against Ballyclare Comrades
“Starting the second half, it wasn’t ideal giving the penalty away but I was happy enough with the response. We didn’t really get started, we’re playing the team that’s second-favourite in the league and they had the better of us in that part (the first 15 minutes of the game), but by the end of it I’m more pleased than frustrated, definitely.”
32-year-old Boylan’s assessment of those burgeoning phases was not off the mark in practice.
Bangor found themselves playing catch-up early on in the duel, going behind within the first five minutes when Ballyclare’s Aimee Kerr fired into the top left corner from around six yards out, before the same player showed her class and composure from the penalty spot to double the advantage nine minutes later.
The Seasiders then found themselves taking a trip to the 12-yard spot as Olivia Brown was felled in the area, cueing Amber Dempster to step up and convert her eighth goal in three matches.
That halved the deficit – and 12 minutes later, those arrears would no longer exist. The ball fell kindly for Brown in the box, who wheeled away to celebrate an equalising goal having side-footed smartly with only the goalkeeper to beat.
It was quite the turn for the books from an opening period where the Comrades had their counterparts consistently under the cosh, with referee Paul Costello signalling for half time with the sides locked at two apiece.
Player spotlight:
After Ballyclare Comrades had established their two-goal cushion early in the encounter on Wednesday night, Olivia Brown played a central role in the Bangor FC Ladies response. It was her who won the penalty, which Amber Dempster converted with aplomb to cut the deficit in half, before her composure in a time-constrained and pressure situation ensured she was able to finish and level the match when the ball fell to her in the penalty area. Image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
The second half once more saw the Co Antrim squadron assume a heightened plinth, when Kerr became her team’s hat-trick hero with another spot-kick that came prior to her upgrading to a four-goal haul with the last action. Her dancing dribble was topped off with the finish to match such sublime close control, and in the fourth minute of added time, it sealed the outcome regarding where the points would be headed for good.
Bangor certainly had their moments, though, such as teenage midfielder Janine Jess rattling her right-footed drive off the post from the best part of 35 yards. Having played high-calibre opposition, the Seagulls had left a mark on them.
Boylan’s preparations turn to next Wednesday night, when Bangor travel to face Belfast Celtic in the latest round of games.
After the capital club narrowly pipped them to the post last term, sealing third-place just ahead of their north Down rivals back in August, the players will be especially eager to put their skills on show.
Kick-off at Sally Gardens in west Belfast is at 7:30pm.
On Thursday night, fittingly following a double-winning adventure, supporters gathered together to remember with fondness Bangor’s glorious Irish Cup win over eternal rivals Ards in 1993.
Cup-winning manager Nigel Best, able number two Colin McCurdy and players Michael Surgeon, Mark Glendinning and Reggie Dornan were special guests to reminisce about those glory days, with Joel Taggart hosting this well-attended event in the Social Club.
Featuring never-before-seen archive footage of the match, as well as a Q&A session with the Seasider immortals, it so proved a highly entertaining and enjoyable night for all in attendance.
Best, who also counts Glenavon among his coaching CV, hailed the backing his troops received from the sidelines.
“There was a tremendous support from the town,” reflected the iconic Yellows supremo. “And even subsequently to that, when we did the tour of Bangor, we’d went to the Town Hall, and to see even that amount of support at all three games, that was a factor as well that pleased us.
“When we did the tour of Bangor, we’d went to the Town Hall, and to see even that amount of support at all three games, that was a factor as well that pleased us”
Victorious manager Nigel Best cited the influence of the crowd in helping Bangor to Irish Cup glory in 1993
“Another half-hour would’ve been a problem because the players were tired and the pitch was awful at that stage and had just become bone-hard, very difficult to play. In fairness, they (Ards) could’ve won two matches before 1-0, so we were hanging onto the result. It was a big relief.”
The Bangor players on an open-top bus celebrate with the Irish Cup, won after three gruelling grudge matches with Ards in an elongated affair that was eventually settled on a Tuesday night at Windsor Park. Image from Centenary Book (2019)
Supporting his former head coach’s assertion, while jokingly noting 6’7″ shot-stopper Stephen Eachus “had to do something” in the game when he started off the move for the winner, McCurdy added: “It was just a massive relief at the end when Paul (Byrne) scored that, you know?
It was just a massive relief at the end when Paul (Byrne) scored that, you know?
Assistant boss Colin McCurdy admitted he was swept over by feelings of relief when Paul Byrne scored the winner
“It was a tremendous, tremendous night,” he continued, before saying of the coaching staff that “they were a vital part of the club, and everything that they had did for us you know, it was great.”
Glendinning, whose sons Ross and Reece are team-mates at Premiership outfit Carrick Rangers in the present day, admitted he forgot he played right-back on the day. A right-footer on the left by trade, and one of the great goalscoring fullbacks in Irish League history, he was somewhat of a specialist in the Irish Cup having won it with three different clubs.
“I didn’t remember at all, no,” he admitted, perhaps a sign of how euphoric it was immediately afterwards. “I was normally at left-back, I was right-footed but hated playing right-back!
“I was normally at left-back, I was right-footed but hated playing right-back!
Mark Glendinning played in an unfamiliar role from his preferred left-sided role in the third game, but still made an impact
“I’d spoke to Nigel there, I’d done my cruciate ligament coming up into it, and then I think I came back, I played in the League Cup Final… I came off the bench and then I’d scored in that, and then you played me in the semi-final against Glentoran, scored in that one so it was good.”
Of course, it was the would-be Glenman who scored both equalisers in the first couple of showdowns versus the Castlereagh Park institution – goals that had helped set Byrne up to make history.
Surgeon’s reflections on the game were of a sentiment that any supporter can appreciate.
“Just trying to get a result and win the match,” he stated.
“He (Nigel Best) actually done the right thing and brought Johnny (Magee) on, he done the flick and then it was a great goal and it was great, you know, to win.”
“He brought Johnny (Magee) on, he done the flick and then it was a great goal”
Michael Surgeon cited the decisive contribution of Johnny Magee when he set up Paul Byrne’s winner with an astute flick
Dornan, meanwhile, addressed the notion that people may have thought tasting Irish Cup glory was Bangor’s zenith.
“You’d have thought that this team’s peaked,” he said.
“But that was far from the truth.
“Nigel brought in a guy called Mark Kenny… Mark was every bit as good as Paul (Byrne). His dead-ball deliveries were outstanding, we were just talking about the APOEL match (in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Qualifiers in 1993), especially when we were in Cyprus… how close were we to playing Paris Saint-Germain here? That’s unbelievable when you think back.
“You’d have thought that this team’s peaked, but that was far from the truth“
Reggie Dornan said winning the Irish Cup was just the start of what had proved a glory era for Bangor
“We hit the post with what, five minutes to go, 10 minutes to go, to go two each, we would’ve been playing PSG here.
“But that year, we went on, we reached the cup Final again, beat Linfield 5-0 at Windsor Park, that’s just unbelievable when you think back. You’d have thought we’d got to an Irish Cup Final, won the Irish Cup, no (it wasn’t us at our peak).”
Elsewhere, the date for Darren Gibbons’ testimonial has been revealed, with the goalkeeper having his day in the spotlight next Saturday, May 20.
Having joined Bangor back in January 2013 and spent 10 uninterrupted years in the Seasiders sticks, he has experienced a first-hand perspective on all the highs and lows. Sticking by the club through heartaches and pain, including in the Ballymena League, the one they call ‘Gibbo’ is very well worth his flowers.
The event at Clandeboye Park next weekend will see the shot-stopper’s select XI take on two opposing teams – firstly, members of the current Yellows playing squad in the first half, and then a supporters team in the second period.
With all proceeds going to Gibbons, who first joined the north Down pride from Larne at the age of just 21, the admission is priced at £5 for entry and £10 for any supporters who wish to play.
Should you want to take to Clandeboye Park’s artificial turf and show off the extent of your footballing abilities, contact media@bangorfc.com to register your interest and face off against his outfit.
And a limited number of tickets remain for Saturday’s end-of-season awards ceremony in the Social Club.
In a festive event celebrating the achievements of the players throughout this campaign, there is a three-course meal lined up for each person in attendance and entertainment in the Social Club alongside the usual awards procession.
Tickets are available at a cost of £25 per person, and if interested you can contact media@bangorfc.com for details.
Congratulations to Gordon Boal, who raked in a pile of cash after claiming victory in this month’s Seasider 200 Club draw.
Former Chairman Victor Haslett revealed loyal supporter Gordon as this week’s prize-clincher, and the club wishes to thank him and all other participants of the draw for continuing to support the side.
Additionally, the club were delighted to this week visit lifelong supporter Ernie Beattie, who got his hands on the Steel and Sons and Premier Intermediate trophies.
Evergreen east Belfast striker Michael Halliday and club Chaplain Gary Faulkner paid Ernie a special visit to his nursing home in Carnalea with the cups, and he has requested to let his friends at the club know that he is doing okay and being looked after very well.
Featured image from Jordan Connolly/Life Through A Lens NI.
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