Building a Nation: Northern Ireland

Shame to see Bangor go down @Shedender but well done on another league title

First of all, thanks for catching up @r96Skinner and I do appreciate all the comments I receive in this career, secondly, I feel the relegations at Bangor perhaps made the career much more enjoyable as it probably would've been really dull if I had remained in the Premiership for the entirety of the save, well from when I got promoted first time with Bangor. As to be expected, I've found it difficult for even get a point in the Champions League/Europa League group stages.

Yeah it's a shame Bangor went down @Dan but I'm sure they'll eventually return.


I've been at Glenavon for the past two seasons and in each of the campaigns I've ended up winning the league title and the board are expecting a hat trick of Premiership successes and there's no reason why it can't be delivered but it won't be easy because we're no longer the only professional club in Northern Ireland because over the course of the summer, Cliftonville also turned professional which is pleasing for the sake of the league.


It turned out to be a busy summer at Mourneview Park as not only did seven players arrive at the football club this summer but I allowed nine players to depart while on retired. Arriving was Dominic Birch (£28.5k from Kilmarnock), Eloy Dominguez (£85k from Real Sociedad B), Christopher Miller (£250k from Bournemouth), David Ramsden (£125k from Portsmouth), Andy Danaher (£170k from Bolton Wanderers), Daijiro Okamoto (£200k from Sevilla C) and John Fox (£110k from Wigan Athletic) and I'm pleased with all the signings I've made.

He was unhappy at the club for so long and despite being almost a five star rated player, I've let centre back Martin Rainey leave the club as Stoke City paid £180k for his services while fellow Premiership side Cliftonville captured central midfielder Conor O'Donnell for £85k. I've allowed Mark McCann (Ballymena), Wiker (Cliftonville), Rachel Davies (Port Vale), Robert Cassidy (Coleraine), Johnny McDowell (Dungannon Swifts) and Richard Mason (Crusaders) to depart on loan while Steven Marshall has been released and centre back Danny Devine has retired.


With the transfer window slammed shut until the beginning of January, the squad had taken shape and I highly doubt I'll be doing any business in the next transfer window. The current squad is looking very strong and as per the norm, I'll be relying on Sean Curran to bang the goals in even though he struggled at times last campaign and only managed thirteen in the Premiership.

I'll be expecting quite a few clean sheets this season (in theory) as I feel we've got a good back five as our goalkeeper, both full backs and both centre backs are solid while our centre midfield isn't too shabby either and while Dean Watson's star rating doesn't look too good, he scores goals. We've got four good wingers who will all see game time this season while the side also got four decent/good strikers but none of them seem to score on a regular basis which is irritating.


And I'm absolutely chuffed with how our preseason went on the field as we played eight fixtures and managed to win them all. Things began with a two nil win at Welsh side Llandudno before easing to a four nil win at home to Mid-Ulster side Crewe United and then three days later the side recorded a three nil win at Scottish side Stranraer.

The side returned home and beat Iveagh United three nil at Mourneview Park while English side Fleetwood Town were defeated three nil also at home. Both feeder clubs Lisburn Distillery and Institute were defeated five nil and three nil respectively before our preseason preparations concluded with a two nil win at home to Swansea City's Under twenty-three side.

Looks like you've got a strong side according to their star ratings mate. A couple younger players too. Lavery and Thompson especially

Yeah they're both talented players @Dan but it's also a shame Thompson doesn't fit into my system very well as I don't really like target men.


We have reached the midway point of what is my third season at Glenavon and the previous two campaigns have been enjoyable as we won back-to-back league titles which meant the Lurgan Blues have now won like six on the bounce or something. This summer I removed the Scottish League which seemed stupid in hindsight because it's meant we've LOST the Challenge Cup. Oh well.


Sadly for the first time since becoming manager at Mourneview Park, we have failed to reach the group stages of either the Champions League or the Europa League which although disappointing isn't really the end of the world. The club were dumped out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round at the hands of Scottish side Celtic while Greek outfit PAOK ended our Europa League hopes at the playoff stage. Domestically though we have reached the final of the League Cup in which we'll entertain Cliftonville while Lurgan Celtic await us in not just the Irish Cup fifth round but the quarter finals of the Mid-Ulster Cup as well.


Once again, as perhaps expected, we've found this campaign to be straight forward as at the midway point the club have lost just twice - both away from home against Belfast duo Crusaders and Linfield - but other than them loses, and the scoreless draw at home to Ballymena and away to Portadown - the first part of the campaign has been straight forward as we've been scoring goals with ease and as you can see we beat fierce rivals Portadown not just four nil but five nil as well and we should've beat them in the final game of twenty twenty nine but unfortunately the side missed a penalty.


And we have ended twenty twenty nine top of the table, nine points clear of second placed Linfield and with a much superior goal difference and I don't want to say we could easily be crowned champions but things are currently looking good for my third consecutive Premiership title. Ballymena United are currently propping up the league while their fierce rivals Coleraine at present occupy the relegation/promotion playoff spot although that more than likely will change.


The final piece of news in this update is huge news and it's to announce that I've completed my Continential A Licence which I am delighted with and now immediately I requested the board about attempting to get my Contiential Pro Licence which, as everyone knows who plays the game, is the last set of coaching badges, and they agreed. The course is expected to take around twelve months of study and Glenavon Football Club will be covering the six thousand pound fee for the course.

Quite heartbreaking to see your team dumped out by Celtic and PAOK, but if you do staying with Glenavon next season, I wished easier opponent for your european run.

Tough run and luck in Europe this time around mate but these seasons happen! See if you can now secure the perfect domestic season competition wise

Yeah it wasn't the best European draw(s) @Zinedine Zaiddin but what can you do?

I would've loved to have progressed into a European group stage @Dan but unfortunately this season it wasn't to be.


I've ended up completing my third season at Glenavon and once again it hasn't been the worst season although sadly we couldn't reach either a Champions League or Europa League group stages but that's not the end of the world as it means the players can't ideally get overly tired at the 'business' end.


It ended up being disappointment in the League Cup final as Cliftonville undeservedly beat us one nil and also in the Irish Cup when Linfield also beat us one nil in the final but the team did lift the Mid-Ulster Cup after a single goal win against Portadown.


Wow. Just one defeat in the second part of the campaign as we were in irresistible form including an unbelievably excellent 8-0 win at home to Linfield while the campaign concluded with a single goal victory over Portadown at Shamrock Park as the side seemingly eased to another consecutive Premiership crown. It's hard to believe that in the final fifteen games of the season, we won fourteen of them which was excellent.


And it turned out to be another easy campaign in what'll perhaps be my final season at Glenavon (I have been contemplating leaving, but only if the correct job becomes available). We ended up on one hundred and one points, twenty six or so points clear of runners-up Linfield. Ballymena ended up being automatically relegated while Ards'll be in the relegation/promotion playoff.

Life at Mourneview Park has turned out to be straight-forward as last season the club won the Premiership title for the eighth consecutive campaign and I'm hoping it'll be a ninth straight crown in what I'm thinking could be my final season at the club as I feel I need to "challenge" myself again - the only downside last season was I failed to win every domestic trophy which was unfortunate but c'est le vie.


Purchased three players this summer although I can only guarantee one'll be a regular starter for the club. Our first signing saw striker Stephen Walker depart Linfield for up to thirty thousand pound, right back Eric Hassan arrived for twenty six thousand pound from English side Braintree and Mark Getty became our "big money" transfer, costing two hundred thousand pound from fellow Premiership side Cliftonville. Christopher Miller's one point three million pound switch to Sunderland was our only major departure this transfer window.

But he wasn't the only departure as eight players also departed the club on loan for the season - trio Brian Thompson, Rachel Davies and Wilker went to Cliftonville, duo Steven Gracey and Michael Moore headed to Coleraine, duo Keith Law and Johnny McDowell signed for Glentoran while Richard Mason re-signed for Crusaders on a second loan deal. Bryan Anderson and Paul Smyth were released when their contracts had expired.


You need to ignore the star ratings because they don't do some players justice but this'll be the first team squad ahead of my fourth campaign at Mourneview Park and it's a strong enough squad but perhaps one not good enough to progress in European football which would be a shame. Yet again I'll be relying on Sean Curran for the goals (even though I signed Stephen Walker) while just like always, I'll be expecting the wingers to assist the lone striker and to also score goals. Dean Watson is able to ship in the goals when he needs to which is always helpful.


Just one defeat in our seven preseason friendly games and that was an undeserved defeat to Scottish side Clyde but we did beat two other Scottish sides as Gretna 2008 and St. Johnstone were beaten both two nil while we beat our feeder clubs Lisburn Distillery, Institute and Annagh United all two goals to nil before the preparations concluded with a six nil win against Ballymacash in Tony Woods' testimonial.

With my fourth season upon us at Mourneview Park the board have indeed put pressure on me as they'll be expecting yet another league trophy and I'm confident enough we can deliver it but I'm hoping Cliftonville (another professional club) and others can put up for of a 'fight' because I don't ideally want to run away with another title while I'm hoping I can win every other domestic trophy we're in.


For the second season running we have failed to reach the group stages of either the Champions League or Europa League which is a damn shame but there's nothing I can do. Crotian side Dinamo Zagreb ended our Champions League hopes while Scots Celtic dumped us out of the Europa League at the playoff stage. We do have a chance to win the League Cup when we face fellow Premiership side Coleraine while we'll travel to Armagh in the fifth round of the Irish Cup and Portadown in the MUC quarter final.


It's been far too easy in the league as we've only dropped points twice in the opening twenty four games - slipping to an undeserved single goal defeat at home to Cliftonville and drawing two apiece away to Linfield - we have done the 'treble' over Portadown so far this season as we've recorded four nil, four two and three nil victories against the Shamrock Park outfit. As you can see for three consecutive games we done the "Arsenal of old" when we won three straight games one nil against Ballinamallard, Bangor and Glentoran.


Don't want to sound "arrogant" but I feel we've pretty much already wrapped up the league as we're twenty four points clear of Cliftonville and it's even better to see Portadown struggling as they're bottom with Crusaders currently occupying the relegation/promotion spot.

Domination! Shame about Europe but it is what it is. Interesting if Crusaders and/or Portadown get relegated, one of them potentially your next club perhaps?

Good work domestically so far this season and superb to see Bangor came straight back up!

You never know what my destination will be @r96Skinner but I don't think it'll be Portadown as I don't want to be called a judas.

Was pleased to see Bangor make an immediate return to the Premiership @Dan and this season has proved to be straightforward.


Another campaign has been done and dusted at Mourneview Park and it'll potentially be my final as I'll be looking at pastures new in the summer but only if there's a suitable job available but first I've got the twenty thirty twenty thirty one season to conclude.


We remained in three cup competitions after Christmas and I'm pleased to announced that we won the three competitions. Coleraine were defeated two one after extra time in the League Cup final, Warrenpoint Town were beaten one nil after extra time while Cliftonville will defeated after extra time two one in the Irish Cup final.


Our excellent league form continued in the second part of the twenty thirty twenty thirty one campaign even if the team did end up losing three more games - twice to Cliftonville and the other to their north Belfast rivals Crusaders - but we did pick up some massive victories as the side thumped Dungannon six nil, Coleraine five nil and Linfield six one which pleased me. The season concluded with a three goals to one victory at home to Glentoran.


And it turned out to be another league success for the Lurgan Blues and my fourth in a row as we finished one one hundred points, twenty points ahead of the runners-up Cliftonville. Bangor survived in the top flight which pleased me while Portadown were automatically relegated and Ballinamallard had to settle for a relegation/promotion playoff.


But after four successful seasons at Mourneview Park, I have decided it's best to step down as the previous two campaigns, bar European success, has become too easy for my liking as we've ended up storming to the league trophy and also won every domestic trophy possible, granted we needed extra time in each final but they were still won. I've got an idea where I'll be heading next, there's a job available at a newly promoted PIL club who're local to Glenavon so I might apply for it.

Judas? Never! You must look after oneself. Felicitations on the domestic success, curious to see what happens next.

Ha, I'd still be classed as a 'judas' @r96Skinner but perhaps I'll take on the Portadown job eventually but you never know what'll happen. We dominated domestically last season.


Following my resignation reluctantly being accepted by the Glenavon board it was now time for me to look ahead to my next challenge and I already had a rough idea in where I was going to potentially end up, a job became available at a newly promoted Premier Intermediate League side who are quite 'local' to Glenavon, around three miles away from Mourneview Park so I won't need to 'move house' if I got the job.


So I'm back in the management game just fifteen days after tendering my resignation at Glenavon Football Club and my next destination is at Premier Intermediate League's newly promoted side Dollingstown who have never been in the third tier (in this career but have been in real life) and they're predicted to win the league so the pressure's on from the get go. I've apparently got a great deal of respect in the footballing world which is great and the board feel they've made the correct choice in appointing me - I hope to prove them right.


The last thing I ideally wanted to be was busy during preseason but unfortunately I don't have much of a choice as bar a few players, the squad currently don't look up to much bar a few players - left back Gary Robinson is a player I'm fimilar with as I had him at Bangor while Eoghan Maybin could be a star on the left wing and experienced striker Kevin O'Neill could be vital although I'll be looking for a younger striker who I can (potentially) use for years. As you can see, the curse about the bottom tier, and the Championship for that matter, is all players are on non-contract terms which means they can be picked up by any club at any time.

Good luck at Dollingstown, @Shedender!

Good luck mate. Nice to see this is still going.

Good luck at the new club @Shedender cant believe they're predicted to win the league despite it being their first promotion to the league!

Cheers @r96Skinner, it's a new & much needed challenge (I hope) in my opinion.

I had planned on finishing it up @Fola but I've decided to keep it going.

They're not the first team though @Dan and they sure won't be the last team who'll be predicted to win the league despite only being promoted. Pressure's on though.


As soon as I had a nosey at the squad I had inherited I knew work needed to be done to strengthen the squad enough to attempt to sure the Premier Intermediate League title which is the minimum of what the clubs ambitious board expect while although a cup run in either the Irish Cup, Mid-Ulster Cup or Intermediate Cup would be nice, the league MUST be the priority.


Yeah I've had a busy summer thus far (one or two players had signed before I arrived but I didn't add them in). Arriving at Planters Park are Josh Kelly (Portadown - loan), Stephen McDonnell (free), Ryan Matthews (Bangor - loan), Sean Moore (free), Reece Shannon (Knockbreda - free), Gerard Mullan (Newtowne - free), Kevin Morrow (Dungannon Swifts - loan), David Louge (free), Andrew Gartland (free), Liam Morgan (Newington Youth Club - free), Chris Reilly (Crumlin Star - free), David Burrows (free), Jonathan McEleney (Lurgan Celtic - free), Alan Sheridan (Ballymena United - free), Stephen Turtle (Newbuildings - free) and Gavin Hamilton (Newington Youth Club - free). I can guarantee that at least six of them will be regulars inside the starting eleven.


Departing Planters Park this summer was former Glentoran player Kym Nelson who decided to hang up his boots while I terminated the contracts of Jake Richardson, Jack O'Mahoney and Ross Craig due to the trio simply not being good enough for this club anymore - both Eoghan Maybin (annoyingly!!) and Stephen Kelly both headed down to Fermanagh to join Ballinamallard United.


The squad has finally taken shape and although improvements can still be made (although quite hard at this level, and even the Championship to be fair) it's a much stronger squad than the one I had took over. Of course I've got some key players, one of them being the on-loan Dungannon midfielder Kevin Morrow who I'll be expecting to pull the strings from the middle as well as chipping in with a few goals - same as his fellow centre midfielder Darragh O'Connor - although his star rating his good, I don't know what to expect from the young striker Liam Morgan but I'm hoping he can score quite a few goals. It's a much younger looking squad, something I enjoy as the players can hopefully progress.


And despite the 'overflow' of new signings it turned out to be an unbeaten preseason program which delighted me, including a score draw against recently relegated Premiership outfit Portadown at Planters Park. Our preseason began with a four nil home win against Ballymacash before the draw against the Ports, Ambassadors were defeated two nil, we beat Omagh Hospitals three nil, Downshire two one before the program concluded with a two one win over Lurgan Celtic in Cormac Lawlor's Testimonial.

Missing the treasure chest of money yet? Busy window hopefully pays off for you

Not really @Dan but I more miss having players on professional contracts. Non-contracts/amateur contracts suck!


I've reached the midway point in my first season at Planters Park and it's been an enjoyable one thus far as the players have gelled pretty quickly which was very pleasing. The club aren't in the Steel & Sons Cup so that'll be one less cup competition I need to worry about which I'm happy enough with but we've still got the League Cup, Mid-Ulster Cup, Intermediate Cup and Irish Cup to contain with, along with of course the league and that needs to be the #1 priority. For the first time in this career I have decided to add the goalscorers chart.


Before the end of twenty thirty one the football club have crashed out of both the League Cup and the Mid-Ulster Cup as Coagh defeated us on penalties in the second round of the League Cup while another penalty shoot-out saw Premiership side Dungannon undeservedly dump us out of the MUC. The club remain in both the Intermediate and Irish Cup and will face home ties in the first month of twenty twenty three - We'll face non-leaguers Drumaness Mills in the Irish Cup fifth round while in the fourth round of the Intermediate Cup we'll face Championship side Institute as both games will be at Planters Park.


Liam Morgan, take a bloody bow son! He's bagged eighteen goals in the Premier Intermediate League before the end of the calendar year and although no one is interested in him (at the moment), I will be surprised if he's a Dollingstown player next season and whether that'll be in the Championship or the PIL remains to be seen. The final league game of twenty thirty one saw us beat Crumlin Star four one as the on-loan Bangor striker Ryan Matthews (only playing due to Liam Morgan being injured) bagged a treble.


And we will head into the new year top of the table and eight points clear of second and third placed Coagh United and Oxford United Stars respectively as this season has been a doddle thus far as we've got a +27 goal difference. Banbridge Town currently prop up the table.

Great start, @Shedender! Liam Morgan has been outstanding!

Unstoppable so far, as Skinner says, Liam Morgan has been on form!

He's sure surprised me @r96Skinner with his form thus far, keep it up and he'll be a club "legend" in no time - of course though, no pressure on the chap.

Sure has @Dan.


Season one at Dollingstown Football Club has been concluded and it hasn't turned out to be a bad campaign after all at Planters Park. After the opening thirteen games we found ourselves lying top of the table at the midway point and with nine Premier Intermediate League games remaining, well, it's our league title to throw away.


As we remained in two cup competitions after Christmas both of those came to an end before the end of February which isn't overly surprising considering the opposition - we had progressed to the sixth round of the Irish Cup following a two nil success over Drumaness Mills but the run ended when Premiership side Coleraine dumped us out at the sixth round stage following a replay at the Coleraine Showgrounds - the first game ended one apiece while the Bannsiders won three one in the replay at home. In the Intermediate Cup my former employers reserve team deservedly dumped us out of the competition following a two nil win at Planters Park, we had progressed to the fifth round following a single goal win over Championship outfit Institute.


Just nine leagues remained in the twenty thirty one twenty thirty two campaign and two defeats happened in which we failed score in as Glebe Rangers and Donegal Celtic defeated us one nil and four nil respectively while the club also drew two apiece at home to Newry City. The league season concluded with back-to-back victories away to Malachians who we beat two one at the Billy Neill Complex and Newington Youth Club two nil at Planters Park.


And it's off to the Championship we go as Premier Intermediate League champions and it was deserved as the side finished thirteen points clear of runners-up Coagh United who ended up joining us in the Championship next season which meant it was heartbreak for Donegal Celtic who'll need to remain in the bottom tier for another season. It turned out to be relegation for Crumlin Star back to the depths of non-league football.

Top work getting promotion at the first time of asking @Shedender. Feel confident in the Championship?

It all depends on either how we strengthen in the summer or how we start life in the Championship @r96Skinner.


It's time to begin life in the second tier in the Championship following an expected and deserved promotion last season at Dollingstown but this season won't be a cakewalk and the pressures on as we're predicted to finish up in fifth place. As you can see, to make it feel 'realistic', I've kept last season's kits.


Seven players arrived at Planters Park this summer while five were released and the ones released were either a) not good enough or b) we found better replacements. Arriving first was left winger Dean Davidson from Newtowne while Jude Murray also arrived on the same day as the shot stopper came in from Holywood, Coagh United striker Paul McIlroy made the switch, Barry Gourley arrived from Institute, Nigel Fox from Sport & Leisure Swifts, Michael Moore came in from 'unattached' and finally centre back James Hill signed on from Brantwood. Sean Moore, Alan Sheridan, Chris Reilly, Kyle Williamson and Cormac Lawlor were all released.


And this'll be the squad that'll begin the twenty thirty two twenty thirty three campaign and it looks a strong squad on paper for our first season in the Championship. I don't want to put needless pressure on the chap but I'll be relying on Liam Morgan to continue his fine form while first choice wingers Nigel Fox and Dean Davidson will also be expected to chip in with goals as well as assists, same as attacking midfielder Chris McMahon. I'm confident enough we can at least equal the expected fifth placed position.


Preseason didn't go too badly either as eight games ended up being arranged and the side ended up losing twice - expectingly to Portadown and poorly to Holywood, both at Planters Park - but we did beat Newbuildings, Seapatrick, Riada, Killyleagh and Omagh Hospitals on the road while Iveagh United were beaten at home.

Well done on the expected league title, straight forward enough

It was indeed @Dan.


Once again I've reached another mid season and it's my second at Dollingstown Football Club and our first in the Championship following promotion and league title success from the Premier Intermediate League. The pressure's on though because even though we've won promotion to the Championship, the board are expecting us to finish up in fifth place.


Before the end of the calendar year, we have crashed out of three cup competitions at Coleraine, Glenavon and Ballymena United dumped us out of the League Cup, Mid-Ulster Cup and Intermediate Cup one nil, two nil and two one respectively. We only remain in the Irish Cup and will face Premiership side and my beloved Bangor in the fifth round - we had thumped PIL side Oxford United Stars seven three in the previous round.


It's been a dream start to life in the Championship as the side have only lost just one game and that was a single goal defeat away to Institute and we've also drew three games, all away from home against Carrick nil nil, Coagh United two two and Harland & Wolff Welders nil nil. Our final league game of twenty thirty two concluded with a deserved two nil win over struggling Tandragee as Liam Morgan and Dean Davidson netted.


We will head into twenty thirty thirty top of the Championship and six points clear of our nearest challengers Institute while it's been a tough start for Knockbreda who are currently propping up the table while the preseason league favourites, Carrick Rangers, are currently down in seventh place and I wouldn't be surprised if their manager has been sacked or at least under pressure.


The final piece of news in this update is huge news as once again I've been reunited with the man, the myth and the legend that is Sean Curran who was released by Glenavon at the end of the season after making one appearance last season (yes, I was cheesed off at that, he had scored twenty eight PL goals in my final season at Mourneview) but I am delighted I've been able to snap him up as his experience and quality could get us over the line. He's a natural goalscorer but I don't want to drop Liam Morgan who has been outstanding since joining last season so I may need to do a tactic change for the first ever time. He'll more than likely make his debut against bottom side Knockbreda at the beginning of next year but whether he'll play the full game or not remains to be seen.

Brilliant once again @Shedender! Certainly got a dilemma on your hands with Curran, couldn't say no to him on a free though!

A superb season to date @Shedender and great to secure Curran again

I Sean Curran @r96Skinner ever since he came through the youth ranks at Bangor, couldn't not say no to him, especially on a free.

Yep @Dan, surprised no one in the Premiership had attempted to snap him up.


Season two at Dollingstown has been completed and it's been an enjoyable rise thus far as last season we had won the Premier Intermediate League as expected but this season we are currently overachieving as the Planters Park outfit proudly sit top of the Championship and looking good thus far for a shock Premiership spot next season although there's still a lot of football to be played.


When the cup competitions resumed after Christmas time, the football club had only the Irish Cup to contain with and a shock two goals to one fifth round success at home to Bangor set us up with a sixth round tie against another North Down club in Premiership strugglers Ards, they unfortunately defeated us one nil at Planters Park in a replay following a two all draw at Bangor Fuels Arena.


It was quite poor league form in the second part of the campaign as in the final eleven Championship outings, the club only recorded three victories and those came against Institute, Armagh City and Dergview - just one success in the final eight games as the league season concluded with two back-to-back draws nil nil away to Institute and one apiece at home to Limavady.


But stop the presses because despite that poor end of season form, Dollingstown Football Club will be a Premiership club next season against the odds and I'm stunned as we finished two points clear of Ballymena United, Harland & Wolff Welders and Institute with the latter being the unfortunate club to miss out on the playoffs. It was automatic relegation for Knockbreda while Tandragee will be in the relegation/promotion playoff against whoever finished second in the PIL.