Latest news with #BallymenaUnited
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Clarke joins Ballymena after Livingston spell
Former Linfield defender Matthew Clarke has returned to the Irish Premiership with Ballymena United. The 31-year-old joins the Sky Blues after a year with Scottish Championship side Livingston. During his time with Livi, he helped the club return to the top-flight and won the Challenge Cup. Advertisement Clarke won five Gibson Cups, two Irish Cups, three League Cups and two County Antrim Shields during his 11 years with Linfield. He becomes Ballymena's second signing after striker Ryan McNickle, and boss Jim Ervin says the arrival of Clarke "is a big coup". "When a player of his calibre comes up, you'd be stupid not to be interested and after a few conversations, thankfully he thought here was the place for him," he told the club's website. "The experience he brings with him is huge from our point of view. Matthew can play a variety of positions, so it's huge for us with what we're looking to do."
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Clarke joins Ballymena after Livingston spell
Former Linfield defender Matthew Clarke has returned to the Irish Premiership with Ballymena 31-year-old joins the Sky Blues after a year with Scottish Championship side his time with Livi, he helped the club return to the top-flight and won the Challenge won five Gibson Cups, two Irish Cups, three League Cups and two County Antrim Shields during his 11 years with becomes Ballymena's second signing after striker Ryan McNickle, and boss Jim Ervin says the arrival of Clarke "is a big coup"."When a player of his calibre comes up, you'd be stupid not to be interested and after a few conversations, thankfully he thought here was the place for him," he told the club's website."The experience he brings with him is huge from our point of view. Matthew can play a variety of positions, so it's huge for us with what we're looking to do."
Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
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.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ballymena Utd's 2024-25 season in review
2024-25 league position: 9thPlayer of the year: Sean O'NeillIt was a solid but inconsistent season for Ballymena United under Jim Ervin after such a positive start to the stark contrast to last season, when Ervin's side beat Institute in the promotion/relegation play off to stay in the top flight, the Sky Blues briefly topped the table in October after an eight-game winning run in the beat Larne, Glentoran and Cliftonville in that run, with summer signing Ben Kennedy netting 11 goals in their first 12 games, but injuries and suspension halted his and ultimately Ballymena's six more victories in the following 26 league matches saw them slump down the table, although they comfortably avoided exited the BetMcLean League Cup at the quarter-final stage and were beaten in the fifth round of the Irish Cup by Championship side Ards.2025-26 signings so far: Ryan McNickle (Newry City)2025-26 departures so far: Luke Hawe (Southampton), Johnny McMurray (unattached), Sam Johnston (unattached), Caleb Crawford (unattached), Fiontan O'Boyle (unattached), Shane Flynn (unattached), Jordan McMullan (Glenavon), Duncan Idehen (Derry City, end of loan), Conor Barr (Derry City, end of loan), Ethan Devine (Linfield, end of loan)
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Burns joins Carrick Rangers after Crues departure
Defender Billy Joe Burns will join Carrick Rangers upon the expiration of his contract with former Crues captain spent 11 years with the Seaview club, making 423 appearances and scoring 33 goals after signing for the north Belfast outfit in played a key role in helping the club secure three Irish Premiership titles, three Irish Cup victories and two County Antrim Shield 36-year-old also picked up personal accolades, collecting the Ulster Footballer of the Year and NIFWA Footballer of the Year in the 2015-16 that, Burns spent eight years at Linfield where he also won three Premiership titles and three Irish playing time has been restricted by injury in recent seasons, but he will be reunited with former Crues boss Stephen Baxter at Taylors Avenue, something he said attracted him to the club."I've worked with Stephen for so long, he knows a lot about me, I know a lot about him, so that was quite simple," he told the club's website."I've spoken with players who have been here before and everyone has had nice things to say, so it was quite an easy decision."I'm excited for a fresh challenge, something new after a long period at Crusaders, I can't wait to get started."Burns becomes Carrick's second summer signing after another former Crusaders midfielder Aidan Steele arrived from Ballymena United have announced the signing of striker Ryan McNickle on a 25-year-old arrives from Newry City after scoring 20 goals in the Championship as his side suffered relegation.
