Irish League club will keep opting out of Sundays despite new proposal… and we won't be alone, insists chairman
Ballymena United Chairman Chris Selwood says his club's opposition to Sunday football hasn't changed and he believes other clubs will opt out of playing League matches on that day of the week.
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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Giants honour legendary head coach Adam Keefe with jersey retirement at testimonial
At a testimonial game in Keefe's honour, celebrating his 14 years of service to the Giants, in front of his family – including brother Sheldon, head coach of the NHL's New Jersey Devils – his jersey was raised to the rafters at the SSE Arena. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed in hockey and a wholly deserved one for Keefe, the team's most successful coach and an individual who is described as the "heartbeat" of the organisation. And now nobody will ever wear the No.47 jersey ever again as, after a heartfelt speech by Giants chairman Robert Fitzpatrick, the banner was lofted above the West End net where it will forever stay. The jersey raising ceremony was followed by the testimonial, which took the form of a round-robin tournament between former team-mates and players that Keefe has coached split into four teams named after Keefe's former teams. Current Belfast stars such as captain Mark Cooper, David Goodwin, Ben Lake and Jackson Whistle all featured, while fellow retired jerseys Rob Stewart, Colin Shields and Graeme Walton also took part, with Todd Kelman and Shane Johnson taking their place as coaches alongside Sheldon Keefe. Joining the organisation in 2011 as a hard-nosed forward and quickly establishing himself as captain in only his second season in Belfast, Keefe would win two Elite League titles with the Giants as a player but it is as coach that his legacy has been taken to another level. In his seven seasons in charge, Keefe has delivered ten trophies to the Giants out of a possible 19, including the Grand Slam in 2023 as his all-conquering side swept all before them to secure League, Challenge Cup and Play-Off glory. Last season the Brampton, Ontario native led the Giants to their fourth League title under his stewardship, winning a dramatic final day race to clinch the crown, as well as a fifth Cup, and is now preparing to take the team into the Champions League for the fourth time next season. Not just the team's coach, Keefe has now built his life in Northern Ireland having married wife Colleen, with the couple welcoming their first daughter Cora in 2021, with Tara following in 2023.
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Giants to retire Adam Keefe's #47 jersey: ‘I am truly humbled'
At his testimonial game on Sunday, recognising 14 years of remarkable service to the organisation as a player and a coach, the Giants legend will become only the eighth player in club history to see his jersey raised to the rafters, never to be worn again by another player. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed in hockey and a wholly deserved one for Keefe, the team's most successful coach and an individual who is described as the "heartbeat" of the organisation. Commenting on the retirement of his 47 jersey, Adam Keefe said: 'It's hard to put into words what this means to me. Belfast has become my home, and the Giants have been my life for over a decade. To see my jersey raised to the rafters, in front of my family and friends, and our incredible fans who have supported me all these years before my testimonial, will be truly humbling. I'm very honoured and proud.' Joining the organisation in 2011 as a hard-nosed forward and quickly establishing himself as captain in only his second season in Belfast, Keefe would win two Elite League titles with the Giants as a player but it is as coach that his legacy has been taken to another level. In his seven seasons in charge, Keefe has delivered ten trophies to the Giants out of a possible 19, including the Grand Slam in 2023 as his all-conquering side swept all before them to secure League, Challenge Cup and Play-Off glory. Last season the Brampton, Ontario native led the Giants to their fourth League title under his stewardship, winning a dramatic final day race to clinch the crown, as well as a fifth Cup, and is now preparing to take the team into the Champions League for the fourth time next season. And on Sunday he will be honoured not just with the jersey retirement but with his testimonial game which features a plethora of friends and former team-mates, who will gather at the SSE Arena to celebrate a remarkable career in Belfast. Keefe's name will join a list of legends whose jerseys hang from the bridge already, the likes of Todd Kelman, Colin Shields and Graeme Walton already immortalised - and now the Giants' "heartbeat" joins them. Not just the team's coach, Keefe has now built his life in Northern Ireland having married wife Colleen, with the couple welcoming their daughter Cora in 2021.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
'No trophies - but Edinburgh now a team to be proud of'
Edinburgh have played 26 games this season in all competitions. In 12 of those we have conceded a total of 16 tries in the 10-minute period following is more than we concede in any other part of our matches. Over the season it has arguably cost Edinburgh at least two league wins. On Saturday it cost us a chance of a score Bulls got in the 51st minute and the fact they failed to cross the line again in the remainder of the match makes it hard to see past that 40-51 minute period as being in the game the broadcasters showed a graphic that told us Bulls forwards were 57kg heavier than Edinburgh. That weight certainly showed at scrum time and as weird as might seem when you score five tries it felt like a rearguard action for much of the 80 a lot of ways our three games against Bulls this season typify what progress there has 1. I described Edinburgh as asthmatic and wasteful. Only one 2. A much improved and focused win. We looked like a 3. A five-try thriller where we just fell short on on your viewpoint the progress is there. A semi-final and a quarter-final allied to a try count we have only surpassed once in our history is balanced out by the fact we won fewer games in the league than we did last are no trophies. That's not new and if that's your reason for supporting Edinburgh, then to paraphrase Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, you've been there is now a team you can be proud of. A team who are putting their bodies on the line for their long-suffering supporters. A team that finally looks like it wants to live up to the 'on paper' reputation that seems to follow them have some departures that could hurt, Jamie Ritchie probably chiefly among those, but we have recruited well and I'm excited to see them make their mark alongside some of the young players who are stepping up.I'm already looking forward to next season as long as we continue playing as if we have a chip on our shoulders as opposed to a silver spoon in our Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch, external
