Latest news with #LoughgallFC
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Famous fan who died at 101 taken on emotional last lap of beloved Irish League ground
The funeral of 101-year-old Hilbert Willis, who passed away on Sunday, took place today. The cortege left his late home, via the football club for a final lap of Lakeview Park, before moving on to St Aidan's Parish Church, Grange for the funeral service. Mr Willis had been a lifelong supporter at Loughgall FC, serving various roles. The club paid tribute, saying: 'No words are enough to describe this man who gave a life-long service to Loughgall Football Club and was known right across the Northern Ireland Football League 'Hilbert served the club in countless roles including chairman, vice-chairman, director, groundsman and indeed also a lifelong supporter, where until recently where his health deteriorated he would barely ever have missed a Loughgall game 'Hilbert has done and seen it all at Loughgall, we are in awe of the great man he was and will always have found memories of his stories.' Mr Willis lived all of his life in Loughgall bar nine months in Holywood after his parents moved there when he was a young man. In a previous interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he recalled becoming involved in football in the village 'from I was knee high…' before going on to become an important figure in the history of Loughgall, who were formed in 1967. In 2021 and aged 97, he completed a near year-long challenge of walking 100 times around Lakeview Park. Inspired by the fundraising efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore in England, who raised £39m for NHS charities walking 100 lengths of his garden, Mr Willis did his laps of honour in aid of Loughgall FC who were suffering financially during Covid-19. He saw the club promoted to the Premiership in 2023. After defying the odds to comfortably stay up in their first season back in the top flight, the Villagers were relegated in May.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Loughgall and Smith 'reach amicable agreement'
Loughgall say they have reached "an amicable agreement" with former manager Dean Smith following his recent departure from the initial statement posted on X by the Irish Premiership club on 6 March indicated that they had "parted company" with their long-serving boss "by mutual consent".However this was contested as a statement from the JWB Consultancy said: "We represent Mr Dean Smith. Our client has not agreed to terminate his contract."Loughgall's statement released on Wednesday night revealed that the parties had resolved their differences and were parting on good terms."Loughgall Football Club and Dean Smith have reached an amicable agreement, inclusive of a confidential financial settlement, representing a full and final resolution of all matters," the statement read."It is acknowledged that the statement on Thursday 6th March issued on social media by Loughgall FC was the result of internal miscommunication. This statement has now been removed."Loughgall FC and Dean Smith have had a successful and lengthy period working together, and now part on mutually agreeable and good terms, with both parties keen to draw a line under recent events."To that end, there will be no further comment from either party in respect of the matter which both Loughgall FC and Dean Smith consider satisfactorily closed."Smith led Loughgall to promotion to the top flight in the 2022-23 campaign and they finished ninth in the Premiership with 13 wins last term the Villagers have struggled however and sit 12 points adrift at the foot of the table and without a league win since November.
