Latest news with #JimErvin
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."
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
11-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ervin bemoans dip in 'performance levels'
Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin bemoaned a "dip in performance levels" by his players as they went down 2-1 at home to Larne in the Irish McMullan's early goal had the Sky Blues ahead but Tiarnan O'Connor and Paul O'Neill struck to ensure all three points went back to east Antrim."I thought the performance levels that we've had over the past number of weeks just weren't there and we gave away two soft goals," lamented the Ballymena boss."We fell short but the effort, endeavour and commitment the boys showed me was incredible."Jordan followed up from his goal on Saturday which was pleasing but you've got to keep going to the next level because when you're playing Larne you have to make sure that you're on your game. Unfortunately tonight we weren't. I'm extremely disappointed with the result."Next up for United is the visit of League Cup winners Cliftonville to the Showgrounds."We now have to pick ourselves up with another huge game at home on Saturday against Cliftonville and we have to try and get back to winning ways," added Ervin.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ballymena win 'so important' for Glentoran
After Glentoran's 1-0 win over Ballymena United at the Oval on Tuesday night, BBC Sport NI got the views of both boss Declan Devine on his side's victory: "Tough game, obviously."We had a couple of opportunities to score and make the ending a bit easier on us."We're better than that, we can have more control than that."The ultimate goal was to get three points."On the response to last week's Irish Cup exit to Bangor: "We needed a response tonight. The players were hurting, we were all hurting, we were all sore after Friday."The anxiety crept in because we were hanging on."It was so important to get three points by any means. In periods we were good and in periods we were anxious."Ballymena manager Jim Ervin on his side's performance:"Extremely disappointed. It's another game I feel we haven't got what we deserved."Ultimately when you're on top in these games you need to score in order to get something from the game."First half we were super, actually, caused them a lot of problems with the boys up front."Second half, we didn't come out. Last 20/25 minutes we looked dangerous again, but the keeper has made a worldie, a great save."Performance-wise, other than 15 minutes at the start of the second half, I think the players were superb, gave me everything. On another night, we maybe score one or two goals, even three."
