Building a Nation: Northern Ireland

After reading through your end of season form, I didn't expect to see promotion at the end of it. Promotion is all that matters. Well done!

Yeah after that horrible form @r96Skinner I'm quite surprised we not only got promotion but also won the league.


With an unlikely promotion signed sealed and delivered at the backend of last season the Premiership welcomed a brand new club amongst their ranks and that's Dollingstown Football Club for the twenty thirty three twenty thirty four campaign and with the club predicted to finish rock bottom, well, at least there's no pressure on us to succeed this campaign. I'd take a tenth place finish now.


I didn't want to do a complete overhaul of the team as the lads that won us promotion to the top flight deserve a crack, so four players ended up arriving with two of them coming from local side Lurgan Celtic as centre back Andrew O'Neill and goalkeeper Luke McCullogh made the switch while central midfielder Craig Hoey joined from Portstewart and left winger Kyle McCullogh arrived from 'unattached' but was released by Portadown at the end of the season. Gerard Mullan and Stephen McDonnell were both released as they weren't deemed good enough.


This is the squad that'll see us compete in the Premiership this season and as you can possibly see, I offered some of our better performers proper contracts - minus Sean Curran because I ideally don't want to pay him three hundred a week unless we're guaranteed survival. Some players aren't good enough for the club in the top flight sadly but I struggled to find replacements so they stay put . . . for now. I don't even know whether for the lone striker, do I go with the more experienced Sean Curran or the youthful Liam Morgan - I hate tough choices.


Preseason went quite well as we lost just one game out of the eight arranged and that was an undeserved (iirc) defeat to Scottish side Albion Rovers who beat us one nil - we drew two games against Lurgan Celtic and Barrow both one apiece. The other five games were successes against Hanover four one, Crumlin United (NIR) one nil, Dundela four nil, Wesley two one and Hill Street three nil.

Good luck in the Premiership dude, superb to get back to back titles now the hard work really begins

You're spot on @Dan, the hard work does begin now. We need to remain a Premiership club.


We are officially a Premiership club for at least one season and I can't wait to get started, I do realise this season is going to be a tough one, Dollingstown are predicted to finish rock bottom so there's no pressure on us to succeed. I'll take a tenth place finish right now and even that's perhaps asking too much.



Our chances of winning the League Cup ended at the quarter final stage as Glenavon squandered our chances, winning four two at Mourneview Park - we had defeated two 'lower league' clubs in the previous two rounds as both Premier Intermediate League side Knockbreda and Championship club Dergview were both defeated one nil. Progression happened in the Mid-Ulster Cup following a three one win over Fivemiletown at home with Warrenpoint awaiting in the quarter final stage while I don't expect us to get far in the Irish Cup as we'll entertain Glenavon in round five.


Life in the Premiership has been tough as you can see by all the red dots but I expected it to be tough - goalscoring has been a major problem if you avoid the two times we scored four goals and the once we scored three. The season began with a four one defeat away to my former employers Bangor while the final game before the end of twenty thirty three was against another former employer in Glenavon who easily beat us three nil. The best result thus far had to be the four one away success in Coleraine, our first EVER Premiership win but you could also add the single goal home success over Glenavon as well.


With fourteen league games remaining we find ourselves in eight position which I'm delighted with but it's also important that's maintained, the club currently have a fourteen point gap ahead of the basement club Crusaders while once again it's becoming another season of struggle for my beloved Bangor who currently occupy the relegation/promotion playoff spot but you can still expect more excitement and heartbreak.

Superb first half of the season dude! Survival would be great, even with that goal difference

Don't worry @Dan even I'd admit the goal difference isn't the greatest, we've struggled to find the net on a regular basis.


Season one in the Premiership has been concluded and it was an enjoyable first half of the season as we found ourselves in eighth place after the opening twenty four games and if we could keep that up then we'd be guaranteed a place in the Premiership next season which would be sensational for a club the size of Dollingstown but there's still a lot of football to be played and it's going to be tough.


Whenever the cup competitions returned in the new year the football club were soon out of them before the end of January. Former employers Glenavon ensured we had a short run in this seasons Irish Cup, winning three one at Planters Park while Premiership high-flyers Warrenpoint Town dumped us out of the Mid-Ulster Cup at the quarter finals stage, two nil, again at home.


Nope I've no idea what the hell happened in the second part of the season but just look at all those red dots, pretty awful. In the final fourteen Premiership encounters we lost twelve times and picked up just two victories as Linfield were beaten three one at Planters Park, a rare occasion when we actually scored more than one goal and Dungannon were also beaten two nil at Stangmore Park. The twenty thirty three twenty thirty four campaign ended with seven straight defeats and confidence destroyed. We struggled for goals massively this season and I can't understand why as we've got some quality in the attacking positions.


And with the season done and dusted it's an immediate return to the Championship for Dollingstown with a forgettable second part of the campaign behind us but it was tight because if we had picked up two more points then we would've been safe but c'est le vie and it wasn't to be. Dungannon will be in the relegation/promotion playoff while Glenavon once again won the Premiership title but this time it was close as Cliftonville pushed them all the way and only goal difference separated the sides.

Ouch! Unlucky @Shedender.

Bloody hell what happened!? ran out of steam?

Cheers @r96Skinner, it's embarrassingly my third relegation in this one career.

I've no idea what happened @Dan because no matter what I tried, we just couldn't pick up any wins barring the two we won - if we had won one more match then we would've been safe.


Last season Dollingstown were relegated from the Premiership after an embarrassing second part of the campaign which seen us win just two out of the previous fourteen Premiership encounters and the pressure's on because seemingly due to the signings I've made, we are now predicted to lift the Championship title compared to being predicted to finish in fourth position which would've been perhaps a little more better but hey ho, it is what it is.


So with the return to the Championship confirmed, I have managed to bring in five new signings and I can guarantee two will be starters - right winger Dean Lafferty has joined from Armagh City, central midfielder Aaron Clarke agreed a switch from Albert Foundry, left back Jonathan Wilson has come in from Sirocco Works (for some reason the board aren't overly impressed w/ this signing), former loan signing Ryan Matthews has arrived from Oxford United Stars and is a striker while our last signing has seen centre back Mark Flynn join from Ardglass. Barry Gorman has been released as he isn't good enough, Steven Campbell has retired and young shot stopper has annoyingly joined Premiership sign Glentoran on a free transfer.


And this is the squad that'll begin the twenty thirty four twenty thirty five Championship campaign and it's not the worst looking squad as there's some talent in there (judging by the star ratings). I don't know who the lone striker is going to be yet, I don't know whether to use the experienced Sean Curran or the youngster Liam Morgan. I'll be expecting big things from wingers Nigel Fox and Dean Davidson while I'd love to see Aaron Clarke chip in with a few goals from centre midfield.


It turned out to be an unbeaten preseason on the field which was pleasing. Eight games ended up being arranged and we drew twice - both nil nil against Premiership side Ballinamallard United and Premier Intermediate League side Oxford United Stars. The other six games saw us victors against Wakehurst two nil, Scarva five three, Ford three one, Clabby two nil, Finaghy two one and Tummery Athletic three two.

It's my nineteen season in football management and my fourth in charge of Craigavon based football club Dollingstown and it's been an up and down stint this far. The ups would've been the back-to-back league titles when we lifted the Premier Intermediate League and then the Championship while the down would've been the immediate return to the second tier after a dismal second part of the campaign. The pressure's on, due to the signings I've made, the board expect the league title.


Our League Cup hopes ended at the clubs first hurdle as PIL side Moyola Park sealed a two goals to one victory at Mill Meadow but the club did advance in the Irish Cup, Mid-Ulster Cup and Intermediate Cup though. In the Irish Cup we'll face Premiership side Cliftonville at Solitude after we beat non-league's Annagh United three nil, Coagh United await in the Mid-Ulster Cup quarter finals as Tandragee were beaten after extra time three two in round one while we'll welcome Ballymoney United to Planters Park in the fourth round - Demesne, Lisburn Distillery and Knockbreda were defeated in the previous three rounds.


Got to admit, it's lovely winning league matches again and seeing green dots as our return to the Championship has been successful as we've reached the midway point with just two league defeats against Armagh City and Newington Youth Club three two and one nil respectively while we've also drew twice, both nil nil against Harland & Wolff Welders at Planters Park and Carrick Rangers at Taylor's Avenue. Our final league game of the calendar year, scheduled to be away to second placed Dergview, was postponed.


As we head into twenty thirty five I can state that Dollingstown proudly sit top of the Championship table and four points clear of both second placed Institute and third placed Dergview although as stated, we've a game in hand, against the third placed club. Knockbreda's had a dismal campaign thus far, as have Coagh United as they both occupy the bottom two positions.

Back to winning ways after relegation, never in doubt! Hopefully the end of last season doesn't repeat itself this season, though.

Bloody hope note @r96Skinner as that was some awful form. It can't happen again, right? RIGHT?


The second part of the twenty thirty four twenty thirty five season is upon us and with the club sitting top of the table and four points clear then promotion could very well happen, correct? In the second part of the campaign last season in the Premiership we had some awful form, barely winning a match and lighting can't strike twice in the Championship, right? Well I for one certainly hope not.


It turned out to be heartbreak in the Intermediate Cup final as despite being one goal up courtesy of a Niall Toner own goal, Glenavon Reserves hit three second half goals without reply to lift the trophy, annoying - Demense, Distillery, Knockbreda, Ballymoney, Immaculata and Dunmurry will defeated in the previous rounds. Cliftonville, as expected, ended our Irish Cup hopes in the fifth round after a three one victory while Coagh ended our Mid-Ulster Cup hopes after United won three nil at Hagan Park.


Are you kidding me?!? Lightening has seemingly struck twice as we've had a pretty dismal second part of the season in the Championship and I can't explain why as the boys picked up just three wins - three nil vs. Ards, four nil vs. Armagh and five three vs. Dergview - you can see we went three games without scoring a goal at the back end of the campaign, losing the trio two nil while the league campaign ended with a one one draw at home to Armagh.


With the bottle job confirmed we had to settle for a second place finish, which in hindsight I suppose isn't too bad considering we were supposed to finish fourth but I'm just irratated that we should've won the league and one more win would've secured it but c'est le vie. Knockbreda were relegated to the PIL, Newington are in the relegation/promotion playoff while we'll face Carrick first up in the relegation/promotion playoff with a potential spot in the Premiership awaiting us. At the end of the campaign Bangor sacked their manager following relegation to the Championship, I want to apply but I also don't want to go back and 'tarnish' the work I done first time around.


The first leg in the relegation/promotion playoff at Taylor's Avenue ended in a scoreless draw. Not much to say because both teams didn't look like scoring, Dollingstown picked up five bookings to Carrick's two. We will welcome Rangers to Planters Park in just four days time...


And the collapse was completed in the second leg in front of five hundred and twelve people and it was the two hundred and twenty members of the 'Amber Army' who were joyous as Carrick fired home four first half goals at Planters Park. James Black opened the scoring in four minute and that was then followed by a Stuart McClintock treble. So it's another season in the Championship for the Dollybirds.

What an absolute nightmare of a run for the second time in a row. Your the new Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, bottling it like that!

Oh dear, did I jinx it? Unlucky @Shedender, hopefully you can kick on and get promoted next season.

I don't undesrstand why it seems to always happen in the second part of the campaign @Dan but it's pissing annoying me. Please don't compare me to Arsene Wenger, at least he's successful.

Yep, you're to blame @r96Skinner haha. I wasn't hundred percent sure on whether I was going to remain at Dollingstown or not but something came up and I'm (potentially) leaving.


With the bottlejob from last fresh in my mind I was preparing for a second consecutive season at Championship level with Dollingstown until I had a nosey at the final Premiership standings from the twenty thirty four twenty thirty five campaign and once I saw from 'breaking news' from a certain North Down based football club I had to apply as I feel I've got "unfinished business" but whether I'd get the job or not remained to be seen.


Relegated from the Premiership at the back end of last season, the Bangor chairman Mark Clarke decided to terminate the contract of the previous manager Scott O'Neill and of course I had to throw my name in the hat and apply. The Seasiders had spent five seasons in the Premiership before the unfortunate relegation with their final Premiership match (at this present time) was a one all draw at home to Crusaders.


I had spent just over nine years at Bangor Fuels Arena before I decided to leave for Glenavon last time out but now I'm back and I'm well aware I've got unfinished business at Bangor Fuels Arena and still have many goals I'd love to complete with my beloved club and one of them would be to become the fourth Professional Premiership club but that's a long, long, long, long time away and we'd need to make sure we make the club an established club in the top flight. Pressure's on this season but we're predicted to win the league and I've promised some of our unhappy better players we'd win the league.


Changes need to be made and whether I find it easy to do remains to be seen but changes do need to be made in certain positions and I'll be trying to ship out the unhappy players regardless of how good they are as I don't want disruption to Shane Clarke, arguably or best centre midfielder, will be out. I'd love to bring Sean Curran back to the Fuels but he currently wants too much wages but I'll try and sign him before he hangs up his boots.

Interesting! Hopefully you can emulate your previous spell with Bangor!

I know the feeling of returning to one of your favoured clubs, ya big softy! Good luck mate!

Good luck on your return to Bangor @Shedender

I'm hoping so as well @r96Skinner but it's going to be difficult that's for sure. I overachieved like crazy during my first stint.

Just hoping I can have more success second time around @DNZY but I'm well aware it's going to be a tough 'un.

Cheers @Dan.


I'm back. It's been almost a decade since my last stint at Bangor Fuels Arena and that lasted just over nine season with the Seasiders and I'd love to last around the same length of time this time around as well but as I've always stated, I'm well aware it's going to be difficult for me to have the same success as last time around. We are predicted to win the Championship title so the pressure's on me but that's grand as I like pressure.


It's been a busy season off the pitch as nine players have arrived this season and I'll be expecting at least all nine to be regulars in the first team this summer so the pressure's on the team will need to gel quickly. I returned to Planters Park to raid my former employers Dollingstown as four players arrived from the Dollybirds - attacking midfielder David Logue, striker Liam Morgan and centre backs Tim McCaffrey and Andrew O'Neill made the switch to the Seaside town. Left back Gareth Higgins joined from Sport & Leisure Swifts, centre midfielder Barry Hegarty arrived from Nortel, Dutch midfielder Gery van der Berg swapped Mourneview Park for Bangor Fuels Arena on a season loan, right winger Jeff Kelly left Carrick while Paul McIlroy arrived from 'unattached'. Departing was John Paul Adair who was released when his contract expired both Shane Clarke and Colm Smyth headed to Portadown and Darren Hagan went to Linfield on a season loan deal.


And this'll be the squad that'll begin the Championship season with a home match against Harland & Wolff Welders and although it's a strong looking squad, there's still places in which the team can improve but unfortunately I couldn't find those players this summer even though nine players were purchased. I'll be relying on Liam Morgan to fire us towards promotion and with twenty goals in the Championship last season, I'll be expecting around the same return.


Just like recent seasons, I once again ensured we had a busy preseason programme as eight games ended up being arranged as the club lost twice, drew once and won five including an excellent two one success at home to Premiership side Ballymena United. Our two defeats came away to both Crumlin Star and Donegal Celtic while the draw was at home to East Belfast. The five victories were against the already mentioned Ballymena in our penultimate preseason game but the side also beat Bangor Young Men, Groomsport, Queens Grads and Ballywalter.

So I've returned to Bangor after around eight or more years away following the Seasiders' relegation back to the Championship and with the club expected to win the league come the end of the season the pressure was well and truly on but I usually 'thrive' at the pressure and I'm confident come the end of the season the club can be promoted back to the Premiership the first time of asking as champions.


It turned out to be heartbreak in the Steel & Sons Cup final as Carrick Rangers defeated us in a penalty shoot-out following a one one draw as Sport & Leisure Swifts, Ballymoney United, Kilmore Rec, Ards Rangers and Dromara were beaten in the previous round before the final defeat. Premiership side Linfield dumped us out of both the League Cup and Co. Antrim Shield while fierce rivals Ards ended our Irish Cup progression.


I'm in grave danger of possibly getting the chop from Bangor Fuels Arena as it's been a disappointing and inconsistent first part of the league campaign which has seen the club lose six times, one more than Institute (last seasons champions) had lost in the entire last season - the defeats came against Armagh twice, Limavady, Carrick, Dollingstown and Ards as we've failed to score in our last two Championship games, losing both two nil.


Yes we're only five points behind the surprise leaders Dollingstown although they've got a game in hand but it's been a disappointing 'second coming' thus far as the club are lying down in fifth place in the Championship table and the board's less than impressed and feel I should be performing better as manager, I agree with them. Harland & Wolff Welders are currently propping up the table.

We got taken over by a new chairman during the first part of the campaign and threatened to replace me with a former Linfield and Glenavon left back Brian Haughey but thankfully I've managed to survive in the post . . . for now at least.

Season one on my return to the Seasiders has been concluded and the 'second coming' proved to be a tricky one as the club have lost six of their opening fifteen league games and I'm potentially one or two defeats away from possibly getting the chop which'll be a damn shame if it happens. Following our heartbreak in the Steel & Sons Cup final on penalties, I'll be hoping we'll be able to try and lift the Intermediate Cup.


Just like the Steel & Sons Cup final, it was more penalty heartbreak in another cup final as Glenavon Reserves defeated us in the Intermediate Cup final following a one one draw, we had to win a shoot-out to beat non-league Tobermore United in the semi final while Ards Rangers and Dunmurry Rec were also defeated in the new year. Disappointing stuff.


If you take out the excellent four one home success against Armagh City and the two nil win at Newry, goal scoring proved to be a problem as we either seemingly won one nil or drew nil nil, just one league defeat to Carrick came in the second part of the campaign but ultimately the draws possibly ended our hopes of winning the league. The twenty thirty five twenty thirty six campaign ended with a hat-trick of draws - home vs. Dollingstown (Liam Morgan's 90th minute penalty rescuing a point), away to Limavady (Liam Morgan again rescuing us a point in second half added time) and nil nil vs. Ards in which we should've won.


How I haven't been sacked is, well, a miracle. A very disappointing league campaign at Bangor Fuels Arena has come to an end and we couldn't even secure a playoff spot as the football club had to settle for a fourth place finish but only finished two points behind the shock champions Dollingstown. It was automatic relegation for Harland & Wolff Welders while Newry will be in the relegation/promotion playoff. At the top of the table, Carrick and Limavady will face off in a two legged playoff with the winner facing the team who finished eleventh in the Premiership.

Unlucky in the cup finals @Shedender. Looks like you've escaped the sack, good luck for next season if you remain.

Should of stayed at Dollongstown! SHEDENDER OUT!

I've been tempted to step down @r96Skinner because it's been a struggle in my first season back but I don't want too, I want to keep on fighting to get this club back in the Premiership. Cheers though, changes need to be made this season.

@Dan in hindsight I should've remained at Dollingstown but you're well aware I would've bottled any chance I had at the title and then probably finished seventh or something.


We're back with our traditional update as it's now been twenty years since this career began (not literally!) and there's been ups and downs, heartbreak and joyness, relegations and promotions and we aren't done yet because I'm still determined to make Northern Ireland the best possibly country in Football Manager 2017. Some major news has come from the Premiership though and that's Cliftonville have lost their professional status this season and have returned to being semi-professional.


Yet again we're going to begin with the Danske Bank Premiership and in the past decade the top flight of Northern Irish football has risen from eighty fourth to sixty ninth which is remarkable while the Championship has also risen but not as much as the second tier is up seven postitions from two hundred an fifty third to two hundred and forty six but the Premier Intermediate League has slipped down four placed the past decade to three hundred and eighth.


And now even though they're not overly important we move onto the cup competitions. It begins with the Irish Cup which has went up five places from eighty sixth to eighty first while the League Cup is also up four places to eighty sixth from ninetieth and the Co. Antrim Shield has went from one hundred and seventh to one hundred and first, rising six places. Now onto the Intermediate competitions and the Steel & Sons Cup has slipped down a position from one hundred and fifty ninth to one hundred and sixteth while the Intermediate Cup has also 'deteriorated' in the last decade, going down to one hundred and sixty first and lastly the Mid-Ulster Cup is up six positions to one hundred and second from one hundred and eighth.

Somehow I've managed to avoid the sack despite a disappointing league campaign last season which seen us finish down in fourth position and not even secure a playoff position and the pressure's on again for the twenty thirty six twenty thirty seven campaign and the board once again expects us to win the league and make our return amongst the Irish League's elite.


There was squad harmony issues amongst the squad so you can say goodbye to Aaron Devine, Aaron McGuiness, Ronnie Craig, Mervyn Kane and Tim McCaffrey who were all unhappy at the club's failure to get promotion to the Premiership and were released when the contracts expired. Chris Rafferty was a 'big earner' and had to be released, his contract had expired while Paul Clearly (Dollingstown - loan) and Anthony O'Hanlon (Crumlin Star - free) have also left. Six players did join the club though this summer - Kevin Riley (Crumlin Star - free), Eddie Boyle (Albert Foundry - free), Alex O'Callaghan (Derriaghy - free), Tommy McDonagh (unattached), Tony Craig (Kilmore Rec - free) and Ciaran Farrell (Newbuildings - free). I'll be expecting just two of the new signings to be regulars in the first team. Oh and I renewed Gery van den Berg's loan for another season.


This'll be the squad that will begin my second season at Bangor and around my eleventh overall (counting the previous spell) and it's a much better looking squad if you ignore some of the star ratings, it's a happier squad as all the unhappy players were released. Darren Hagan returned from his loan at Linfield and is no longer unhappy at the club so I could expect him to start on the wing - last season David Louge failed to score a single league goal from the AMC position, I'm hoping Alex O'Callaghan can chip in with a few. As for the lone position up top, I don't know whether to start Tom Worthington, Liam Morgan or Gary Hamilton as it's a tough decision - I don't really want to change the tactic.


Just seven preseason friendlies were arranged this summer and they produced five wins and two defeats with the defeats coming both at home to Scottish Lowland League side Stirling Albion and Premiership outfit Ballinamallard United, both two one while the club recorded victories against Damolly, Bangor Young Men, Carryduff, Bangor Swifts and Castlewellan.

With preseason done and dusted it was time to kick off the twenty thirty six twenty thirty seven campaign and once again the pressure was on me in the league as the board expected me to secure the league title despite a disappointing fourth place finish last season while the football club also suffered heartbreak in both the Steel & Sons Cup and Intermediate Cup finals, losing both on penalties.


A double has been secured already! as I'm proud to announce that we've managed to win both the Co. Antrim Shield and Steel & Sons Cup thanks to victories over Glentoran (3-2 aet) and Ballyclare Comrades (2-1) while we'll resume our Intermediate Cup quest with a trip to Coleraine's reserve team while we'll face Premiership strugglers Ballymena United in the fifth round of the Irish Cup at the Ballymena Showgrounds.


It's been a more successful start to the league campaign (compared to last season) even though we've suffered three defeats on the road without scoring a goal in the process - one nil vs. Armagh, one nil vs. Sport & Leisure Swifts and two nil vs. Newington. Ciaran Farrell became a Seasiders' "hero" when he bagged a treble against our fierce rivals Ards while the calendar year in the league ended with a scoreless draw at Inver Park but we should've won.


Whenever the league resumes it'll resume with Bangor Football Club top of the table but only a single point ahead of second placed Limavady United, two points clear of third placed Carrick and just seven points clear of Armagh City who currently occupy fourth position. At the foot of the table, newly-promoted Sport & Leisure prop up the table while another newly-promoted club, Larne, are ninth at the turn of the year.

Super cup success @Shedender now get that league title this year around

Strolling forward it seems, good work. FYI, you need to sack your kit designer.

Cheers @Dan I'm delighted I've been able to win the Steel & Sons Cup again as it's a competition I simply haven't won enough but I'm surprised about the Co. Antrim Shield success against Glentoran though, but I'll take it. Winning the league title remains the major plan.

And what's wrong with the kits @DNZY? I don't mind them personally, well, I'm not one hundred percent on the home top but the away one looks nice.


I don't know what I've done but this season has been (thus far) a better success compared to last season as a double has already been confirmed following our success in both the Co. Antrim Shield and Steel & Sons Cup while the lads are sitting top of the Championship table but just one point clear as the football club look for promotion back to the Premiership.


It turned out to be a treble as far as cup competitions went as following a three two (after extra time) success against Dungannon Swifts Reserves we have won the Intermediate Cup - Carrick Rangers, Moyola Park, Malachians and Coleraine Reserves were beaten in the previous rounds post Christmas. Our run however in the Irish Cup came to an end at the quarter final stage following a three nil defeat to Linfield at home in a replay, we had drew one apiece at Windsor Park in the original game but just didn't perform in the replay.


The league form in the second part of the campaign turned out to be a mixed bag as in the final eleven games we won six, drew three and lost two - the two defeats coming against Armagh at home and Newington away. We drew nil nil against our fierce rivals Ards while the league campaign ended with two back-to-back victories against fellow title challengers Carrick Rangers and Limavady United at Bangor Fuels Arena as attacking midfielder David Louge finally scored his first ever league goal for the club against Carrick.


We're back in the Premiership though after two seasons in the wilderness Championship and it was a tough, but deserved promotion as we finished five points clear of Carrick Rangers who take the runners-up spot and will face Limavady United in a two-legged playoff with the winner facing the eleventh placed Premiership club in a relegation/promotion playoff. Dergview got automatically relegated while Larne will be in the relegation/promotion playoff at the foot of the table. Dollingstown suffered automatic relegation from the Premiership after one season back in the top flight.

Well improved season in the league, @Shedender! Superb to win a cup treble as well!