Latest news with #ClandeboyePark
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Turnstiles and triumph for volunteers behind club's top flight return
Financial turmoil, multiple relegations, and even exiting senior football entirely - Bangor FC have seen it all since they last played in Northern Ireland's top flight. Despite a proud history that includes competing in Europe and a 1993 Irish Cup triumph to their name, the future of the club at one point looked bleak during their 16-year absence from the top division, as attendances at matches started to dwindle. Fast forward to 2025, and a new era of hope, as more than 1,800 fans crammed into a packed Clandeboye Park to see the club's first Irish Premiership match since 2009. A 3-1 win over Cliftonville - and the scenes of delirium it inspired amongst the raucous home fans in yellow and blue - was more than just three points; it was testament to the club's slow, arduous climb back up the football pyramid and the tireless work of an army of volunteers behind the scenes. On Tuesday night, the fans will flock to Bangor's second home game of the season, against Crusaders, hoping for a repeat performance. A director on the board, Melissa Gibbons, said she's been officially involved with the club for about a year, but her unofficial association goes way back. "My family and I have supported Bangor for as long as I can remember," she said. "My brother plays for the reserves and my dad has been coming to games for years, so really it's been a lifelong connection for us." Unlike the vast resources available to teams in the Premier League - and even in lower-league football in the rest of the UK - a club like Bangor relies on the sweat of volunteers. She gives a huge amount of credit for the club's resurgence to those who have given up their free time to pitch in. "We have so many fantastic volunteers, and every single one is vital, no matter what role they fulfil on match days," she said. "From running the tuck shop to the stewards, the people helping with the kits, or working the turnstiles - everyone plays their part." That includes people like Gary Shufflebottom, a turnstile operator at Clandeboye Park for the past four years. Watching huge crowds stream through the gates for the first home game of the season was a really special moment, he said, especially after seeing the club drop down to the Ballymena and Provincial Football League in 2017. "Every season you'd go down thinking, this couldn't get any worse - and then, of course, it did get worse when we were relegated again," Gary said. "But to be here now, seeing the buzz back around the place, it's just unbelievable." Gary said with things improving both on and off the pitch in recent years, he's seen crowds continue to grow first hand. Stephen McCullough bought his first Bangor FC season ticket in the 1980s and has been hooked ever since. Now, his passion for the club stretches beyond the terraces - he works as the club's safeguarding officer, sits on the youth committee and even helps on the turnstiles when needed. He said following Bangor has been "an emotional rollercoaster" but one that comes with huge pride for the club and his home city. "When I first started, we weren't great," he recalled. "But then we had that amazing spell in the late '80s and early '90s. "If you'd asked me seven or eight years ago whether we'd ever see that again, I wouldn't have believed you, but now, we've got that special feeling back. "Obviously, there's still work to do but it's great to be back competing with the big boys again." The scenes at celebration at Clandeboye on the opening game of the season were captured by volunteer club photographer Jordon Connolly, who said seeing so many smiling faces was proof the "feel-good factor is back". "We've always been a well-supported side, even down the leagues, but to see people turning out in their droves to back their local side is fantastic," he said. Jordon's earliest memories of following the club in the lower leagues often involved typing "obscure grounds" into a sat-nav and setting off, never quite sure where they would end up. "Now we're back playing at big stadiums like the Oval and Windsor Park - and it's so encouraging to be back competing at that level again." Back in business, battling to stay Fan and business owner Cameron McKay, who regularly sponsors players and match balls, said Bangor's return to the top flight is a huge boost for the city. "The club is at the heart of the community, and its growth in recent years has been fantastic for the whole area. "So much credit must go to the board, the players, manager Lee Feeney, and everyone working behind the scenes. "The turnaround is phenomenal - and it's not just the men's team benefiting. "The whole club is thriving, with the women and youth sides going from strength-to-strength as well." Despite an encouraging start to the season, with a win over Cliftonville and a narrow defeat away to Glentoran, Cameron said this year's ambition remains simple. "Stay in the league - just stay in the league." Arthurs can be Irish League's 'number one striker' Bangor win Championship to earn promotion to top flight Bangor 'capable of beating anybody' - Feeney
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Turnstiles and triumph for volunteers behind club's top flight return
Financial turmoil, multiple relegations, and even exiting senior football entirely - Bangor FC have seen it all since they last played in Northern Ireland's top flight. Despite a proud history that includes competing in Europe and a 1993 Irish Cup triumph to their name, the future of the club at one point looked bleak during their 16-year absence from the top division, as attendances at matches started to dwindle. Fast forward to 2025, and a new era of hope, as more than 1,800 fans crammed into a packed Clandeboye Park to see the club's first Irish Premiership match since 2009. A 3-1 win over Cliftonville - and the scenes of delirium it inspired amongst the raucous home fans in yellow and blue - was more than just three points; it was testament to the club's slow, arduous climb back up the football pyramid and the tireless work of an army of volunteers behind the scenes. On Tuesday night, the fans will flock to Bangor's second home game of the season, against Crusaders, hoping for a repeat performance. A director on the board, Melissa Gibbons, said she's been officially involved with the club for about a year, but her unofficial association goes way back. "My family and I have supported Bangor for as long as I can remember," she said. "My brother plays for the reserves and my dad has been coming to games for years, so really it's been a lifelong connection for us." Unlike the vast resources available to teams in the Premier League - and even in lower-league football in the rest of the UK - a club like Bangor relies on the sweat of volunteers. She gives a huge amount of credit for the club's resurgence to those who have given up their free time to pitch in. "We have so many fantastic volunteers, and every single one is vital, no matter what role they fulfil on match days," she said. "From running the tuck shop to the stewards, the people helping with the kits, or working the turnstiles - everyone plays their part." That includes people like Gary Shufflebottom, a turnstile operator at Clandeboye Park for the past four years. Watching huge crowds stream through the gates for the first home game of the season was a really special moment, he said, especially after seeing the club drop down to the Ballymena and Provincial Football League in 2017. "Every season you'd go down thinking, this couldn't get any worse - and then, of course, it did get worse when we were relegated again," Gary said. "But to be here now, seeing the buzz back around the place, it's just unbelievable." Gary said with things improving both on and off the pitch in recent years, he's seen crowds continue to grow first hand. Stephen McCullough bought his first Bangor FC season ticket in the 1980s and has been hooked ever since. Now, his passion for the club stretches beyond the terraces - he works as the club's safeguarding officer, sits on the youth committee and even helps on the turnstiles when needed. He said following Bangor has been "an emotional rollercoaster" but one that comes with huge pride for the club and his home city. "When I first started, we weren't great," he recalled. "But then we had that amazing spell in the late '80s and early '90s. "If you'd asked me seven or eight years ago whether we'd ever see that again, I wouldn't have believed you, but now, we've got that special feeling back. "Obviously, there's still work to do but it's great to be back competing with the big boys again." The scenes at celebration at Clandeboye on the opening game of the season were captured by volunteer club photographer Jordon Connolly, who said seeing so many smiling faces was proof the "feel-good factor is back". "We've always been a well-supported side, even down the leagues, but to see people turning out in their droves to back their local side is fantastic," he said. Jordon's earliest memories of following the club in the lower leagues often involved typing "obscure grounds" into a sat-nav and setting off, never quite sure where they would end up. "Now we're back playing at big stadiums like the Oval and Windsor Park - and it's so encouraging to be back competing at that level again." Back in business, battling to stay Fan and business owner Cameron McKay, who regularly sponsors players and match balls, said Bangor's return to the top flight is a huge boost for the city. "The club is at the heart of the community, and its growth in recent years has been fantastic for the whole area. "So much credit must go to the board, the players, manager Lee Feeney, and everyone working behind the scenes. "The turnaround is phenomenal - and it's not just the men's team benefiting. "The whole club is thriving, with the women and youth sides going from strength-to-strength as well." Despite an encouraging start to the season, with a win over Cliftonville and a narrow defeat away to Glentoran, Cameron said this year's ambition remains simple. "Stay in the league - just stay in the league." Arthurs can be Irish League's 'number one striker' Bangor win Championship to earn promotion to top flight Bangor 'capable of beating anybody' - Feeney
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Bangor FC: Seasiders' success steered by selfless supporters
Financial turmoil, multiple relegations, and even exiting senior football entirely - Bangor FC have seen it all since they last played in Northern Ireland's top a proud history that includes competing in Europe and a 1993 Irish Cup triumph to their name, the future of the club at one point looked bleak during their 16-year absence from the top division, as attendances at matches started to forward to 2025, and a new era of hope, as more than 1,800 fans crammed into a packed Clandeboye Park to see the club's first Irish Premiership match since 2009.A 3-1 win over Cliftonville - and the scenes of delirium it inspired amongst the raucous home fans in yellow and blue - was more than just three points; it was testament to the club's slow, arduous climb back up the football pyramid and the tireless work of an army of volunteers behind the scenes. On Tuesday night, the fans will flock to Bangor's second home game of the season, against Crusaders, hoping for a repeat performance.A director on the board, Melissa Gibbons, said she's been officially involved with the club for about a year, but her unofficial association goes way back."My family and I have supported Bangor for as long as I can remember," she said."My brother plays for the reserves and my dad has been coming to games for years, so really it's been a lifelong connection for us."Unlike the vast resources available to teams in the Premier League - and even in lower-league football in the rest of the UK - a club like Bangor relies on the sweat of gives a huge amount of credit for the club's resurgence to those who have given up their free time to pitch in."We have so many fantastic volunteers, and every single one is vital, no matter what role they fulfil on match days," she said. "From running the tuck shop to the stewards, the people helping with the kits, or working the turnstiles - everyone plays their part." That includes people like Gary Shufflebottom, a turnstile operator at Clandeboye Park for the past four huge crowds stream through the gates for the first home game of the season was a really special moment, he said, especially after seeing the club drop down to the Ballymena and Provincial Football League in 2017."Every season you'd go down thinking, this couldn't get any worse - and then, of course, it did get worse when we were relegated again," Gary said."But to be here now, seeing the buzz back around the place, it's just unbelievable."Gary said with things improving both on and off the pitch in recent years, he's seen crowds continue to grow first hand. Stephen McCullough bought his first Bangor FC season ticket in the 1980s and has been hooked ever his passion for the club stretches beyond the terraces - he works as the club's safeguarding officer, sits on the youth committee and even helps on the turnstiles when said following Bangor has been "an emotional rollercoaster" but one that comes with huge pride for the club and his home city. "When I first started, we weren't great," he recalled. "But then we had that amazing spell in the late '80s and early '90s."If you'd asked me seven or eight years ago whether we'd ever see that again, I wouldn't have believed you, but now, we've got that special feeling back. "Obviously, there's still work to do but it's great to be back competing with the big boys again." The scenes at celebration at Clandeboye on the opening game of the season were captured by volunteer club photographer Jordon Connolly, who said seeing so many smiling faces was proof the "feel-good factor is back". "We've always been a well-supported side, even down the leagues, but to see people turning out in their droves to back their local side is fantastic," he earliest memories of following the club in the lower leagues often involved typing "obscure grounds" into a sat-nav and setting off, never quite sure where they would end up."Now we're back playing at big stadiums like the Oval and Windsor Park - and it's so encouraging to be back competing at that level again." Back in business, battling to stay Fan and business owner Cameron McKay, who regularly sponsors players and match balls, said Bangor's return to the top flight is a huge boost for the city."The club is at the heart of the community, and its growth in recent years has been fantastic for the whole area."So much credit must go to the board, the players, manager Lee Feeney, and everyone working behind the scenes."The turnaround is phenomenal - and it's not just the men's team benefiting. "The whole club is thriving, with the women and youth sides going from strength-to-strength as well." Despite an encouraging start to the season, with a win over Cliftonville and a narrow defeat away to Glentoran, Cameron said this year's ambition remains simple."Stay in the league - just stay in the league."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Arthurs can be Irish League's 'number one striker'
Bangor and Ben Arthurs has been a match made in heaven for seven years, so it is little surprise the star striker agreed a three-year extension at Clandeboye 27-year-old netted his 158th career goal for the Seasiders in Sunday's 3-1 win over Cliftonville to get their return to the Irish Premiership off to a dream is second in the all-time scoring charts for the club behind the legendary Billy Bradford, who scored over 400 goals for the club, and although reaching that figure "is a bit ambitious", the striker's primary objective is to help Bangor become fully established back in the top tier."Scoring the goal to put us ahead against Cliftonville was a proud moment for me at a packed Clandeboye Park," Arthurs told BBC Sport NI's Mark Sidebottom."I've been here so long it really does mean something to me. Half my family is from Bangor, so there is a family feel to it."I signed a three-year deal and that will take me to 10 years of service. I don't plan on going anywhere, so I'm happy at Bangor." Arthurs joined the club back when they plied their trade in the Ballymena & Provincial League and has played a key role in their rise up through the it is not just on the football pitch where his sporting prowess extends. In the coming weeks, the man spearheading Bangor's attack in the Irish Premiership will also line out for his local hurling club Ballycran in the Down now, and with the challenge of Glentoran at the Oval on Saturday [15:00 BST], Arthurs is out to prove wrong any who still doubt his ability to take his goalscoring talents up a level."I'm hoping to continue to prove it as there still are question marks," he acknowledged."I have good players around me, so I'm not picking the ball up on the halfway line and taking it myself, but when it does get into the right areas, I seem to get the job done and here's hoping that can continue." 'All the attributes to be league's top striker' Bangor's assistant manager John Douglas has every faith Arthurs can become one of the league's top strikers this worked with the player since he arrived at the club, Douglas has watched him blossom and feels he can take the Premiership by storm this season."Every challenge we've put his way, he's come up trumps," said Douglas."He's got better and better as we've climbed the leagues and answered the critics."He's a very humble lad and the challenge this season is that Ben could be the number one striker in this league. He has all the attributes to become that."The next challenge ahead is Saturday's trip to face Glentoran at the won an Irish Cup quarter-final between the teams last season, but Douglas is expecting a different Glens this week."There are no easy games in this league and we will ensure we have a gameplan for Glentoran, just like we did against Cliftonville," he said."Hopefully we will continue with the upward trajectory and give a good account of ourselves."
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ards 3 Ballinamallard 1: Another lame duck opening day
Ballinamallard opened their NIFL Championship campaign with a 3-1 defeat by Ards at Clandeboye Park. The Mallards historically have a poor record on the first day of the season having won only one opening match since 2018, but it looked as though they would reverse that trend when they took a half-time lead thanks to James McGrath's strike from the edge of the penalty area. Those hopes unravelled just moments into the second half however as Ards scored twice in the first six minutes after the break, and then added a late third when Ballinamallard pushed forward to try to get back into the contest. Ards finished fifth last season and have set their sights on getting even higher this time around, and they started brightly as they pushed Ballinamallard back. Jack Reilly was the first to have a shot at goal, testing out Ballinamallard's debutant goalkeeper Lorcan Donnelly, but the loanee from Glentoran was able to make a comfortable stop. Steven Gordon was the next to come close for the home side, but his header came back off the post and the Mallards scrambled it clear. Ballinamallard were always looking dangerous on the counter attack, and it was a breakaway goal that put them ahead after thirty-three minutes. Their high energy pressing forced Ards into a mistake and they won the ball back high up the pitch, with James McGrath slotting past keeper Marc Matthews from 18 yards out. Ballinamallard lost Ryan Morris to a head injury just before half time, with Richie Johnston replacing him, but the new look defence were caught out just one minute into the second half. The Mallards lost possession cheaply and Ards broke forward down the left. Eamon Scannell drilled a cross into the six yard box, and Aaron Arkinson was adjudged to have fouled Darius Roohi as they went for the ball. Ards captain Michael Ruddy stepped up and sent Donnelly the wrong way from the spot to level the contest. Three minutes later Ards took the lead for the first time when a defensive mix up between Arkinson and David Jonathan allowed Jamie Browne to race clear and dink the ball over Donnelly. Despite conceding twice Donnelly was having an impressive debut between the posts, and he saved from Paul Donnelly before James McGrath tested the Ards keeper at the other end, but his effort was straight at Matthews. Jack Reilly and Jamie Browne were the next to be denied by Donnelly, and when Roohi did get the better of the keeper his effort was adjudged to have crossed the line in the build up. Ballinamallard changed their formation in a bid to get an equaliser, but their adventurous move did not pay off as Ards took advantage to score a third. Josh McIlwaine went down inside the Ards penalty area and claimed a penalty, but the referee ignored his appeals and Ards raced up the other end, Reilly squaring the ball for Roohi to tap in and seal the victory.
