Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside

Sure up that defence man! Come on! Next season is your season! Keep.plugging away!

Shoring up the defence is unfortunately easier said than done Dan as I've not really any 'top class' defender who'd be interested in joining the club, but I'll continue to plug away and when promotion comes around (c'mon, I can't be stuck in Championship One forever, right?) it'll be worth the struggles.

It's time for what will be my fourth season at this tremendous football club and despite failure to exit the second tier as of yet, well, I've still enjoyed every minute of this journey to date and I hope it'll continue for years to come as I don't want to EVER manage anyone else in my management career, not now, not ever. Once again we're predicted to finish down in eleventh place (second bottom) so once again their is no pressure on us but I still expect to better it and get another top half finish.


I've managed to bring in six new faces as my quest to get out of Championship One continues into a fourth season. David Healy has arrived from Championship Two side Larne and I expect 'big' things from the twenty four year old while youngster Darragh Quinn joined from Championship One 'rivals' Ballinamallard United but I don't want to rush him into the team and risk 'burning him out'.

The third signing saw right winger Stefan Lavery join the club from Armagh City, Adam Wallace comes from Co. Tyrone side Dergview, Thomas Lambe returns to the club from Knockbreda and our last signing saw central defender Caolan McLaughlin join the club from amateur league side Kilmore Rec.

This summer it was time to say farewell to two players as Chris Trussell and James McCabe both departed the club. Chris returned to his former employers Ballyclare Comrades while James went to Ballymoney based club Glebe Rangers who I believe are still non-league, I wish both players the best.


Once again pre season was quite success but bar Premiership side Linfield, we didn't play any 'big' sides as I wanted to concentrate on keeping the morale and confidence up. We won them all, including beating Linfield at home, bar one game and that was a two all home draw against Ardoyne. We had beaten Coleraine Crues, Ballycastle, East Belfast, Bangor Amateurs, Linfield, Bangor Rangers, Desertmartin and Barn United. I really don't know what to expect this season but a top half finish again would be nice.

It's time for yet another mid-season update here at Bangor Football Club as I'm currently in my fourth season at the club and after two fifth place and a runners-up finish inbetween, I'm once again targeting a top half finish as I really don't think we have what it takes for secure promotion.....yet.

Steel & Sons Cup:


For the second season running we have lifted the Steel & Sons Cup, which I'm absolutely delighted with as we beat Linfield Swifts four two in the Christmas Day showpiece, we had to battle for the win but I'm pleased we managed to retain the trophy. Our route to the final saw us beat fierce rivals Ards, Newington, Ballymoney, PSNI and Glentoran II.



County Antrim Shield:


We could only reach the quarter finals of this seasons Co. Antrim Shield as the side lost away to fellow Championship One club Knockbreda but that's fine as I believe the board only wanted us to be 'competitive' in the shield, we beat Distillery in the first round by three goals to one at Bangor Fuels Arena before our quarters exit at Breda Park.

League Cup:


It was an early exit from this seasons League Cup as Lurgan Celtic beat us two one at home in the second round which frustrated me as we done well in the competition last season - for the second time this season in a cup competition, we had beaten rivals Ards.

Intermediate Cup:


Once again Bangor crashed out of the Intermediate Cup at the third round hurdle for the second season running after losing at home to Championship One 'rivals' Warrenpoint Town who will be looking for an immediate return to the Premiership following their relegation - victories over Sport & Leisure and Dundela happened in the previous rounds before our exit at the hands of 'point.

Irish Cup:


When the Irish Cup resumes in the New Year, a tough fifth round tie at home to Premiership title challengers Glentoran await and I don't know how we're going to perform but I just hope we don't get embarrassed. The side beat Armagh by a single goal in the fourth round, also at home.

League - Championship One:


This is the prize I want the most, especially this season as we've been in this 'hell hole' of a league for four seasons under my stewardship and it's been a tremendous season to date as we've won ten of our first fourteen league games and that's quite a tremendous return and we're four points clear of second placed Warrenpoint Town and that's not bad for a club who were predicted to finish second bottom in pre season.


And the football club will be heading into 2019 proudly sitting top of the Championship One table with a four point gap over Warrenpoint and a five point gap over third placed Lurgan Celtic but it's still going to be a tough challenge for promotion. It's also really lovely not just to see Ards bottom of the table but also win-less after their opening fifteen matches, bliss.

Super pre season. Super first half of this season man! On a role! Well done on trophy two

Nice read mate im really enjoying it, fingers crossed this is your year!!! great first half of the season keep it up

Cheers Dan, it's been a fantastic league season to date and I really hope it can continue and we can secure promotion to the Premiership and then, maybe, progression can finally happen.

It needs to be our year apass93, I've had three years of heartbreak and disappointment and I'm 'done' with that.

One more season has been signed sealed and delivered and it was a fantastic season to date but it was also very important that was maintained as we looked to launch a title bid for just the second time in this career - finished fifth twice in three season - but I can guarantee that it won't be easy as the league is unpredictable.

Irish Cup:


We overachieved in the Irish Cup, losing in the quarter finals away to Premiership basement boys Loughgall which disappointed me slighty as I really thought we could've advanced to the semis but c'est le vie and promotion was the main prize I wanted this season. We had beaten Glentoran and Warrenpoint in the two previous rounds in the New Year before our Lakeview exit.

League - Championship One:


It was a tremendous second part of the season at Bangor Fuels Arena as the side only dropped points in four games out of the remaining thirteen games, six clean sheets were also kept in the second half of the season. We produced an amazing comeback at home to Lurgan Celtic, 3-0 down at one stage, we scored five (four in the second half) without reply to win the game 5-3. The season ended with two undeserved wins but I doubt anyone 'associated' with our club cares.




Championship One Champions! It turned out to be a remarkable season at Bangor as we finally secured top flight football for the first time since the 2008/09 season, finishing eleven points behind Warrenpoint who'll be joined by Ballinamallard in the Championship One play-off and the winner of that will face the team who finished second bottom in the Premiership. Our season was made even sweeter with the fact that Ards will be playing in Championship Two next season.

Other News:


Yet again I am delighted to confirm that I've agreed, and signed, a one year contract extension at my beloved football club and it's been a great journey thus far - of course when I signed the deal, the 'media' had to find some fault and they mentioned our elimination from the Intermediate Cup at the hands of Linfield Swifts two years ago.

Good stuff! Best of luck in the top league!

Cheers DNZY. I'm delighted with promotion to the top flight but now the hard work truly begins for the football club.

Promotion to the Premiership was signed sealed and delivered in what was a tremendous league season for the football club but now I'm under no illusions that the tough work truly begins now as it's important we survive in the Premiership or, even though we're predicted to finish bottom, I could end up getting the chop.


And six players ended up arriving in the summer as I look to avoid an immediate return to Championship One and I'm pleased with the captures as I expect at least four of them to be regulars for the club this season.

Four players arrived at Bangor Fuels Arena having agreed pre contracts following our promotion - a long term target, Conor Anderson arrived from Championship Two club Institute while Matthew Buchanan joined from Limavady United. Another long term target following his release from Crusaders a few seasons ago, Jordan Forsythe returns to the club from Armagh and he previously had a spell at Brantwood. Other signings saw Dan Rooney come from Knockbreda, Chris Gallagher made the switch from Warrenpoint and late in the transfer window, Steven Geoghegan arrived from Annagh United.

It was time to say goodbye to two players this summer as Aidan Watson departed for Ballymoney United who I believe our non-league still, at the age of thirty-two, he wasn't a regular last season and I doubt he would've got much game time this season and Adam Wallace was released on a free after again, I couldn't guarantee him first team football this season.


For the first time in this career, we have ended up having a pretty dreadful pre season as the side lost three of the seven arranged friendlies and those defeats came at Nortel, as expected Motherwell and surprisingly at home to Holywood. Bangor Swifts, Tullycarnet and Limavady United were beaten while the other friendly encounter ended in a scoreless draw at Distillery.

Good work last season with promotion mate! Knew you'd do it, Takes the trophy count ti three now I believe? Done well this summer with the freebies!

you smashed it mate well done!! looking forward to the next update

That's the major good thing about managing in the Irish League Dan, 'non contracts' which means it's quite easier to sign players - especially when you're now in the Premiership and can offer proper contracts. I'm pleased with the signings and just hope they can deliver.

Cheers apass93, this is going to probably be a tough season but I just hope we can survive.

We are here! Last season the club gained promotion to the Premiership and the 'promise land' of Irish League Football but with a pretty horrible pre season behind us, I really don't know how well we're going to perform this campaign. We are predicted to finish bottom, I'd be delighted with a tenth place finish. This is a 38 game season so the players will need to get used to playing eleven more league games.

County Antrim Shield:


Once again the quarter final stage would be where our Co. Antrim Shield hopes would end as Crusaders defeated us three two at Seaview in a frustrating game as we had led the contest twice - Brantwood were beaten 2-0 at Bangor Fuels Arena in the first round.

League Cup:


Defeat to Championship Two side Banbridge Town at Crystal Park would see the run in the League Cup come to an end as they upset us - in our defence, we didn't have a 'proper' goalkeeper as both were injured - Dungannon were disposed off in the second round, three goals to nil at Stangmore before our third round exit.

League - Premiership:


Despite a fantastic start to the league season in which we won three of our opening five fixtures, it's been a mixed start as that was followed by five straight league defeats and then two draws before the side returned to winning ways, winning at then league leaders Glentoran. The year has ended with four wins and a draw from our last six games including an undeserved single goal win at Ballymena,


But, amazingly, we'll be heading into the new year with the club lying up in sixth place and I'm absolutely delighted as we're eighteen points ahead of our predicted finish of twelfth. We've won ten, drew seven and lost seven of our twenty four league games....so far. I'm hoping this remarkable season can continue and we can survive the dreaded drop.

Super start to the new season so high up in your first season!

A fantastic start mate what you would of dreamt of at the start of the season i bet!! good luck for the second half at least you can start it with a little bit of breathing room and no doubts good spirits within the dressing room KUTGW

Cheers Dan, it's been a surprising but excellent start to life in the Premiership and it's important that's maintained.

That's exactly it apass93, at least I'm not lying down near the bottom and already in a relegation battle - or worse, cut adrift at the bottom.

It's been a fantastic start to the Premiership season as we lying up in sixth place, eighteen points clear of the basement club Dungannon. The football club only remain in one cup competition this season - Irish Cup while I'm confident we can survive in the top flight this season but it won't be easy that's for sure.

Irish Cup:


We have had a tremendous run in this seasons Irish Cup, losing to Linfield in the final, we were only expected to reach the fifth round but instead we ended up being runners-up. On route to the final we beat Loughgall, Annagh United, Newry City and Glentoran before being losing finalists.

League - Premiership:


The second half of the campaign proved to be tough as we simply couldn't stop drawing games, seven out of the last fourteen Premiership encounters - we failed to win a single game at Bangor Fuels Arena in the second part of the season and we won just three games and those games were away to Welders, away to Glenavon and away to Carrick. The league season ended with a horrible eight one defeat away to Linfield.


And despite a horrible second part of the season in which we won just three games we somehow managed to finish in the top half despite finishing seven points behind seventh placed Portadown. With our success this season, I just hope the board don't put make next seasons expectations unrealistic.

Other News:


As per the norm, I have signed a one year contract extension at Bangor Fuels Arena and I'm always going to be delighted to agree deals at this wonderful football club. I've been here for (currently) five years and I'd love to make it ten and then more so.

I'm about to begin my sixth season at Bangor Football Club and it's continues to be an enjoyable ride to date. Last season, following our promotion from Championship One, we overachieved, finishing sixth in the top flight and also being runners-up in the Irish Cup. This season however, I expect it to be more tough as teams will 'know' the style I play so it's perhaps time to change it up a little bit but we'll see.


I raided non-league Nerwy City for three of their star players as Louis Rooney, Michael Newberry and Josh Stachini had all agreed pre-contracts at Bangor Fuels Arena and I'm delighted to have the trio on board for the forthcoming season, and beyond.

Conor Mitchell agreed to join the club on the first day of the transfer window as he also agreed a pre-contract with the club after his previous club, Harland & Wolff Welders were relegated back to Championship One while Eoghan McCawl and Josh Cahoon also joined the club from Knockbreda and 'unattached' respectively.

Just two players would end up leaving the club this summer. Experienced centre back Dean Youle left after his contract had expired and he was barely getting game time while Jordan Lucas decided to head to Killyleagh Y.C. on a free.


And on the field I couldn't fault how our preperations went as we won five out of the eight games that had been arranged by the clubs assistant manager and also myself. We had beaten Nortel, Bangor Rangers, Bangor Amateurs, Ards Rangers and Newry City while we drew at home to both Killyleagh and Holywood and lost at home to Annan.

Once again we're predicted to finish rock bottom and I believe this will be a tough season ahead.

really enjoying this career

Great season last year mate, despite the lengthy run in the league struggling for a result but a cup final and top half finish cant be complained at.

All the signings have a high potential (* rating) so hopefully that pays off!

Great season last year mate, despite the lengthy run in the league struggling for a result but a cup final and top half finish cant be complained at.

All the signings have a high potential (* rating) so hopefully that pays off!

Cheers Ipswich Knights, I'm enjoying the career aswell.

Such an important comment, you had to post it twice Dan? Ha. Last season was a tremendous season on our return to the Premiership and it's important the side can build on that, I'm delighted with the signings lad, especially the trio that arrived from Newry.

Another season has arrived, this'll be my sixth season at this football club and it's been an enjoyable ride thus far and long may that continue. Last season despite being predicted to finish bottom, we secured a top six finish and this season the club are once again predicted to finish bottom and again I'm confident in our abilities to finish in the top six for the second season running.

County Antrim Shield:


Once again we have been eliminated in the Co. Antrim Shield at the quarter finals stage as the frustration continues in this competition and it's one I feel we'll never win. We had beaten Championship Two side and fierce rivals Ards by a single goal in the first round thanks to Louis Rooney's 37th minute strike before exiting the competition in the next round (quarter finals) losing on penalties at home to Glentoran.

League Cup:


And it was also a quarter final exit in the League Cup this season as Cliftonville beat us by five goals to one at Bangor Fuels Arena, Championship One duo Knockbreda and Dungannon Swifts were beaten in the previous two rounds, keeping clean sheets in both before defeat in the quarters.

League - Premiership:


For the second season running, we have had a tremendous first part of the league season as we've won eleven of our opening twenty three games and bar the five goal defeat at home to Linfield, we haven't really been outplayed this season as the new signings gelled quickly. The year ended with an undeserved single goal victory over struggling Ballymena at Ballymena Showgrounds.


The club will begin the new year up in fifth place and yet again that's something I could have only dreamt about in pre season even though, in my opinion, we've a better squad than our predicted league finish would state. Glentoran have had a dismal first part of the season, winning none of their opening twenty three games and look doomed. They've picked up just five points from a possible sixty nine.

Tough work in the cups again this year but looking solid mid table again in the league!

nice league start there mate would hope you can solidy at least a mid table finish now and cement regular top flight status good luck for the second half

I'd love to win another cup competition/league as it's been too long Dan, ha. It's always nice to see us exceeding expectations once again.

Cheers for the comment once again apass93, I did tell the players in pre season that I'm targeting another top half finish and thus far they're doing exactly that - it needs to be maintained in the second part of the campaign again.

Another season in the Irish League has come and went and the sixth season has been concluded and yet again it ended up being a tremendous season at Bangor Fuels Arena as, at the moment, we were exceeding expectations for the second season running and it was important that was maintained as I told the players in pre season we'll finish in the top half. Could we end up winning a domestic trophy for the first time in a few years? Probably not but I'll be giving the Irish Cup a vailiant shot as it's the one competition we remain in.

Irish Cup:


It would be a quarter final exit from this seasons Irish Cup which I'm a little annoyed about as we finished runners-up just last season but Crusaders ended our progression in this years competition after a replay - the first game ended 2-2 - in the previous two rounds we beat amateur league side Kilmore Rec and Championship One's Armagh City both away from home before the Crues eliminated us.

League - Premiership:


The second part of the Premiership campaign wasn't too bad despite ending the season with back-to-back away defeats against Glenavon and Coleraine. We began the new year with three wins on the bounce as Lurgan Celtic, Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers were beaten - our best performance in the second half of the 2020/21 season saw us beat relegation threatened Glentoran 5-0 at The Oval as we didn't let them have a single shot on target.


What a tremendous season for Bangor Football Club! Not only did we once again exceed expectatitions (predicted to finish bottom) but we ended the season in fourth place and in return we qualified for Europe next season and we'll play in the Europa League and I'm stocked as I continue to progress rapidly in this career. Glentoran ended up being relegated and they sacked Ally McCoist following the drop. Linfield won the league, finishing six points ahead of Crusaders.

Other News:


I've signed a new one year contract extension at Bangor Fuels Arena that'll see my contract finish at the end of June 2022, I only had three months remaining on my current deal so I found it 'important' to agree terms as soon as possible as I'd love to remain at this club for many more years and I'd love to finally get to manage in Europe, with no coaching badges still, 'mon.

They like the one year extensions don't they. Top work o reaching Europe this year man

Well done on finally getting promoted! That was a brilliant season as you comfortably won the league really good work in the last 2 seasons too with a top half finish and then qualifying for Europe! Hopefully you keep getting the contract extensions!

Great stuff so far man, GL in Europe

Put up Gerard McMullans stats

Indeed they do Dan but that's to be expected from a semi-professional club, qualifying for Europe was a monumental achievement as it'll help the clubs finances in the long run.

Thanks for the comment George. I've been delighted with how well the last couple of seasons have went following promotion from Championship One and long may that continue. I'd love more than a one year extension though.

Cheers gaz12321

Sure, these are Gerard's stats, Gerard.

Last season was a season to remember for us at the club as not just did we secure a top four finish but in return we qualified for the Europa League which I'm absolutely humbled with but we WON'T be playing our home game(s) at Bangor Fuels Arena as it's not big or good enough (at the moment I hope) for European football, our home games will be played at Windsor Park.


Just three players joined the club this season, nineteen year old Mark Baker joins the club after being released by Coleraine at the end of last season while experienced centre back Mark Haughey left Linfield in the summer and I quickly snapped him up as his experience could become valuable and then our last season saw Rory Hale arrive after he left Glentoran following their relegation to Championship One.

One player ended up departing the club so far this season as left back Thomas Lambe joined Championship Two side Dundela on loan.


Despite participating in Europe this forthcoming season, I still organised (well, my assistant manager helped) nine friendlies in which we didn't lose a single game drawing twice away to Buckley and Gala Fairydean Rovers. We beat Bangor Amateurs, Bangor Swifts, Holywood, Larne Tech, Groomsport, Kilroot and Glenafton in pre season.

*Please note: These pre season friendlies weren't in order due to European participation*

For the first time since 1994 (vs. Tatran Presov), Bangor Football Club will be playing in Europe due to our fourth place finish in the Premiership last season and I'm still in shock with how well we performed last campaign and now I expect us to do much better although that might be a little 'unrealistic'. We are expected to finish the campaign in seventh place instead of bottom like in the previous two campaigns. Pressure's on.

Europa League:


Our run in the Europa League was a memorable one as we reached the third qualifying round of the competition before losing to Dutch side FC Twente (4-0 at home, 5-0 away) and that was to be expected as they're a massive club compared to ourselves - in the previous two qualifying rounds we beat Rabotnicki of Macedonia and Finnish side PK-35 Vantaa.

County Antrim Shield:


In the Co. Antrim Shield we progressed past the quarter finals for the first time in quite a while and the club reached the final of the competition, losing to Linfield in front of the television cameras. The board don't consider the competition important but I still want to win every domestic trophy possible in senior football. Bangor had beaten Glentoran (on penalties), Brantwood and Lisburn Distillery in the previous three rounds before being runners-up.

League Cup:


And we've a great chance of adding a piece of silverware this season as we'll be in the final of the League Cup in which we'll face Ballinamallard United at Solitude in the third week of January and we've only conceded one goal in the competition to date - fierce rivals Ards were beaten by a single goal to nil in the second round and Glenavon suffered the same fate in round three, Crusaders were beaten in the quarters and we beat Linfield (for the first time ever in a competitive fixture) three nil in the semis. We should be confident in winning the trophy.

League - Premiership:


It has been a tremendous first part of the league season and I shouldn't be overly surprised as I've assembled quite a good squad at Bangor Fuels Arena but somehow, I'm still surprised at how well we've been performing in the Premiership this season and the previous two seasons. We've lost just the five league games out of the twenty two played so far and we've got a positive goal difference too. Our five defeats have come against Linfield (x2), Glenavon, Crusaders and Ballymena United.


And we'll be heading into the new year just six points behind leaders Glenavon and officially in a title challenge as this has been a remarkable season to date. The football club have picked up eleven wins, four draws and five defeats from the opening twenty two games and also had quite an enjoyable European run earlier in the campaign and things are looking good (at present) for European qualification for a second season running but it's still tight.

Great first half of the season mate, good luck in the cup final, I'm sure it'll be yours!

Thanks for the comment Dan, it's once again been a fantastic first part of the season as the side are exceeding expectations once again. For the League Cup final, it needs to be ours and there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to beat Ballinamallard but it won't be easy.

Once again I've completed a league season and my SEVENTH in charge of Bangor and yet again it's been another tremendous start as we're looking to exceed expectations for a third consecutive season and qualify for the Europa League for the second straight season - I'd love a league title (who wouldn't) but I don't think we're ready for that just yet, maybe two/three seasons down the line if these great seasons can keep going.

League Cup:


I'm delighted to announce that we've managed to win the League Cup, beating Ballinamallrd United 2-0 in the final thanks to a Louis Rooney double (I believe) at Solitude, the home of Cliftonville - in the previous four rounds we seen off Ards, Glenavon, Crusaders and Linfield.



Irish Cup:


And we came so close to adding the Irish Cup to our trophy cabinet this season but unfortunately we lost to Crusaders in the final after extra time which annoyed me slightly but c'est le vie and we can't win them all. Just like the League Cup, we conceded just the once and beat Ballymena, Linfield, Newry City and Dungannon in the last four rounds before losing the 'show piece' final.

League - Premiership:


Just five more league defeats would follow this season (vs. Knockbreda, Crusaders, Glenavon x2 and Portadown) as my Bangor charges looked to exceed expectations once again. The club managed to keep five league sheets in the second part of the season (vs. Coleraine, Linfield, Ballymena, Dungannon and Portadown) but once again I couldn't fault how this campaign came and went as we exceeded expectations and won a piece of silverware too.


For the second season running, Bangor will be participating in the Europa League after finishing the season in third place (one place higher than last season) and we also finished just three points behind champions Linfield so it's major progress as the football club also finished the season in a positive goal difference. Lurgan Celtic were relegated back to Championship One while Carrick won the Championship One title. Knockbreda will be in the relegation/promotion play-off.

Other News:


Yep, just like last season, I have put 'pen to paper' on a one year contract extension that'll now see my contract conclude at the end of June 2023. It was a non-brainer that I was always going to agree terms and I had just three months remaining on my current deal.