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2024-2025 Season: Blowing off the cobwebs… - Volume 2 Chapter 6

So after a week's training under their collective belts, we headed to Greenisland for our first pre-season outing of the new campaign. For those who don't know where Greenisland is, well it's a small town of just under 5500 people and is located 7 miles north-east of Belfast, however the largest town close by is Carrick(fergus) which is 3 miles to its south-west. Their local side, our opponents, play in the sixth tier of the league structure but have an established link with Purple Bricks FC aka Premiership Champions Larne. Their history has produced five full internationals for the wee country in the shape of the Evans brothers (Jonny and Corry), Craig Cathcart, Michael Smith and most recently: Dale Taylor. If only we could develop such a link…

As decided earlier in the week, we opted to go with a mixture of first team players, reserves and youth teamers. Quite the variation. The team for the first half was named as follows in our now customary 4-4-2:  Dalzell; Briers ©, Mitchell, McKeown, King; Porter, Madine, Sousa, Morrow; Doyle, Olofsson.

Glenkeen Avenue, Carrickfergus

Attendance: 32 (16 away)

A comfortable win for us in the first pre-season outing which was underpinned by a very strong first half performance. We had the chance to open our pre-season account when we were awarded a penalty in just the 10th minute when winger Aaron Porter was fouled by Dean Glenholmes with a heavy challenge in the area; leaving referee Louise Thompson with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Young striker Billy Olofsson stepped up to take the penalty kick when nobody else fancied it but Roy Heatley made a comfortable save to his left. The deadlock was broken though in the 21st minute when a deep cross to the far post by Craig Briers was met by a header across Heatley and into the far corner by Sam Morrow. We added a second eight minutes later when last season's top scorer Jonathan Doyle played a nice one-two with Ethan Sousa before cutting inside and drilling a low effort under Heatley and into the opposite bottom corner.

A third came in the 41st minute, a curling cross from Aaron Porter was met by a second header from Morrow with Heatley rooted to the spot. 3-0 at the break and cue for us to send out a complete changed line up for the second 45 as per the plan. The team for the second half was therefore and again playing 4-4-2: McLaughlin; Cullen, Wadham, Murphy, Butt; Reynolds, Wilson ©, Farren, Machado; Akassou, Stewart. We created plenty of opportunities again but surprisingly only one would hit the net when 16 year old right back John Cullen swung in a cross which was met by a powerful header into the net from Alexandre Machado. Greenisland scored a consolation two minutes from time when Steve Jones' cross was turned in at the near post past Nigel McLaughlin by Michael Hughes. A good workout, and a winning one at that. 

After the game, teenage central defender Joel Moore announced that he would be leaving us, He has taken up an opportunity to sign for Carrick-based side Barn United who are in the fifth tier of the league structure. Meanwhile, one player that is staying put is vice-captain Briers who has snubbed Limavady United's approach to transfer there. With Mark McCullagh now retired, there's a real chance that he can make that right-back spot his own unless we can source an upgrade. Ken had an announcement of his own, and that was to confirm that we had set up an arrangement with Dunmurry Recreation FC who play in a division below us at present. We're off and running, and that's the main thing.

Kyle my man,

Congratulations on making back to back promotions. Helluva achievement. This has similarities with my FM19 save where I started out with Edinburgh City in the Third Division. Unfortunately on that save, things went sour when the board refused to back us with a request to go full time and we started to lose heavily in the Championship and they wouldn't go back on it. That save saw me end up resigning but led to an incredible career elsewhere mate. Are there any chances of going full time if you don't have it yet? It's gonna be needed sometime anyways.

Keep up the good work with this, still an enjoyable read. 👍

2024-2025 Season: Back to the grindstone… - Volume 2 Chapter 5

So England, under Gareth Southgate, have finally won a major honour for the first time since 1966. The scenes in Berlin were unreal, so much so that bars were drunk dry in some places. However, I wasn't in the mood to join them. Not because I didn't want to be seen as a miserable party pooper of sorts, but I had an early flight to take back to Dublin Airport at 0700 German time where I would be collected by Kyle (my number two) and driven straight to the training ground for the first day of pre-season.

No rest for the wicked as my dear Mam always says. This is the life of a football manager, although my day job as a stadium tour guide at the National Stadium (Windsor Park) would be held off for 24 hours. You see it's not all about the football club 24/7, PSNI only employ me on a part time basis. But day one of pre-season is always the same for us, we see it as an induction where all the players meet up (old and new), get a wee talk from Ken and then it's down to the physicals to see what kind of shape they are in before rounding off with a speech from me as regards what is expected from them as players as well as outlining the Club's Code of Conduct for the season ahead. Quite the full-on day. Anyway this year we took on the large function suite at the nearby Newforge Country Club and Sports Complex, not too far from our ground, as we now have a squad size of 54 players which comprise of the first team core, the reserves and new to this season: the youth team - all under the age of 18 which no post-training beers for them. 

Five players shone like beacons after day one, four being defenders. Skipper and midfielder Johnny Wilson topped the charts and this was by all accounts to himself: an absolute blooming miracle. Why so? Well, Johnny went to Magaluf for a fortnight once season 23-24 had come to an end with his mates as his pal Ciaran was on his stag do and then he was away again shortly afterwards for a break in Ayia Napa with his missus, He's still going on about the bloody Carol Vorderman non-story though, in fact he was telling everyone how pleased he would be if Carol showed up at one of our home games. Crazy lad. The others that shone were Andrew Ferguson, Craig Briers, Ben Mitchell and Jack Graham.

With the first of six pre-season friendlies this Saturday at Greenisland, I have decided that the side which will take to the field is going to be a predominantly young squad with a smattering of first teamers. They will be probably a number of reserve team and youth teamers who will be making the bulk of the 22-man squad. Each half will have a different side fielded which means I will make a full squad change at half time. Four other players will be on hand to cover for unexpected circumstances such an injury or a red card but ideally it won't come to either.

We've had the season long loan for the experienced left back accepted by Ards so I'm just waiting to ratify it if the other loan signing wants to come or not before sealing the deal with the Ards lad. I've also got season-long loan deals in the pipeline for a couple of promising strikers in the Premiership. Hopefully we can have a decent window. However young central defender Joel Moore is attracting attention and I'm hoping he decides to stay as he's got a bit about him and could be just as good as “Fergie” in a few seasons. But if he goes, so be it.

On the eve of that friendly, Jake Moore has decided to leave us for Championship side Knockbreda who have a former player of ours in the shape of Raul Zabrauteanu in their reserves. Good luck Jake, even though I was hoping to use you more this season than last. And finally divisional rivals Limavady United have tried to sign vice-captain Briers as well as free agent winger Ryan Whiteside who is an exceptional player that I wouldn't mind signing either. If only he would lower his demands then I'm sure we would have a deal over the line.

See you at Greenisland tomorrow…

Look forward to this @Ghelfi 👍

2024-2025 Season: It all boiled down to this… - Volume 2 Chapter 4

England are in another major final of a major tournament, and as we all know…if they don't screw it up in a semi-final then there's every chance they will do it in the game when the actual trophy is on the line! It's just normal practice. Anyway I'm back in Berlin for the final few days of my month-long break in Germany, I didn't actually plan to stay here this long but the deeper the run got: well you had to stick around to see the final outcome!

Back in the UK, Premier League champions Manchester City have been flexing their financial muscle again as they look to win a fifth consecutive title. They've splashed out an initial fee of £192 million to sign Brazilian Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid, rising to a maximum of £266 million after add-ons. I mean, yeah they have the money, but £192 million is just absolutely crazy money! I don't even have £192 in the bank to spend on new recruits for PSNI such is the disparity of these haves and the have nots. Whatever next, a £300 million transfer fee? Anyway the thought of Vini Junior and Erling Haaland in the same team, and chuck Ginger Kev the gamer (De Bruyne) and Dani Olmo (when back from injury) into that same squad: well it's proper scary biscuits time.

In PSNI world, Kyle advised we have secured a sixth and final pre-season game and this will be played at The Dub. We will host Stirling University Reserves on 17 August 2024, a week before the season begins in earnest. Whilst it would have been ideal to get a prestigious home friendly in, the more higher standard opponent involved then the bigger the fee involved you have to shell out for them to accept and money is not something we are flush with. If only someone would come in and take us over so Ken can swan off into the sunset and retire on the Costa del Sol or wherever he has his holiday home…

Naturally we are still in a weak spot where we could lose players and not be in a position to do anything about it. The latest ones that could be departing are central defender Jack Graham who has attracted the attentions of newly promoted Donegal Celtic, and striker Jake Moore for whom Championship side Knockbreda are keen on with newly relegated Newington also having him on their radar. Kyle also reckons we might need additional full backs (both sides), a left winger and maybe one or two more strikers. Looks like I'm going to have to go shopping for bargains again on my meagre resources when I return from Germany. I see it this way, it's like shopping at blooming Poundland when you've been used to going to Harrods in a former life.

So Sunday 14 July 2024, the 17th Final of the UEFA European Championship took place in Berlin. After 50 games across 10 different cities, it all boiled down to one match of 90 minutes, 120 minutes or even longer. Sitting there as a neutral, I just waited to see if it would be a classic or an absolute borefest. Ronald Koeman named a starting eleven which had four players from the Premier League in it: goalkeeper Mark Flekken of Brentford as well as defenders Nathan Aké (City), Sven Botman (Newcastle) and national team skipper Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool); whilst talented 20 year old Xavi Simons was given the job of leading the line ahead of 6ft 6in Wout Weghorst - formerly of Burnley and Manchester United. There were surprises in the Three Lions starting eleven too as Southgate chose to drop Marc Guéhi, Ben Chilwell and incredibly Jude Bellingham from the semi-final winning starting line up. They were replaced by Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Phil Foden.

A cagey beginning saw neither nation create a chance in the opening 25 minutes but in shades of the Three Lions semi-final, they broke the deadlock a minute later and it came from the most unlikely source possible. A weighted pass from John Stones picked out AC Milan's Fiyako Tomori on the edge of the Dutch penalty area, he had been up for a corner moments before, and he worked an opening for himself before guiding an effort out of the reach of Flekken into the bottom corner. Stones almost made it 2-0 seven minutes before the break with an effort from the edge of the box which Flekken held comfortably. Little had been seen from the creative Dutch side, England restricting them to zero shots on goal in that first 45+2 minutes.

The Dutch should have equalised in the opening throes of the second half, and it will be one that Simons will not want to remember in a hurry. Steven Berghuis' cross was half cleared by England scorer Tomori back to the winger who picked out Simons at the second opportunity and his weak effort was placed straight into the grateful clutches of Jordan Pickford. Half-time substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold then almost created a second Three Lions goal, his cross being met by Harry Kane but Flekken produced a brilliant save to push the ball onto the bar and with Aké on hand to hook the ball clear. Just after the hour another substitute Jarrod Bowen had another Three Lions chance but once more Flekken saved the effort. The Netherlands had no response as England controlled the match, giving their opponents not even a sniff in front of goal. A second almost arrived with nine minutes to go; Raheem Sterling striking the foot of the post after van Dijk had blocked his initial effort.

After four minutes of added-on time, the final whistle sounded. England had ended their trophy drought after almost 59 years of trying, and Jude Bellingham never got a minute's action in that Final. Some way to treat an elite midfielder Mr Southgate, eh? But then again, you've always been er…different!

I assume this is written in Portuguese so I've used Google Translate to understand it, and this is what it said:

"Joinville Esporte Clube legend Ghelfi Junior was born in Joinville (SC) on April 5, 2002. He enjoyed enormous success at Joinville EC, winning 11 league titles and 16 cups. Junior has won support and praise for his recent Gegenpress-based approach at Joinville EC, and his ability to get the team to play in this way has left many fans optimistic for the future. The most distinctive feature of Ghelfi Junior’s Gegenpress system is his reliance on wide players, who get into the penalty area and create chances for themselves. Joinville EC have come a long way since Junior was appointed when they were only competing in the Campeonato Catarinense, to where they now compete at the highest level of national football. Junior, who has earned a reputation for getting his teams to play attacking football, seems to fit in perfectly with the club’s current vision, leaving an aura of optimism at Arena Joinville. 

Ghelfi Junior’s first experience off the pitch was as a coach at Joinville EC. During his time at the club, Junior's team won the Copa Libertadores da América in 2029 and 2031, the Recopa Santander Sudamericana in 2032, the Brasileirão - Série A in 2031, the Copa do Brasil in 2031, the Brasileirão Serie B Chevrolet in 2027, the Brasileirão Série C in 2026, the Campeonato Catarinense seven times in a row between 2026 and 2032, the Intercontinental Cup in 2029 and 2031, the Supercopa do Brasil in 2032, the Brasileirão - Série D MundiUP in 2025, the Copa Santa Catarina in 2024 and the Recopa Catarinense eight times between 2024 and 2032. Junior became Brazil's coach in July 2030. Junior was recognized for his talent and achievements with several awards: He won the Coach of the Year - Brasileirão Série D. Best Coach - Santa Catarina native seven times, Coach of the Year - Brazilian Championship Series C, Best Coach - Brazilian Cup twice, Coach of the Year - Brazilian Championship Series B and Coach of the Year - Brazilian Championship Series A."

Whilst I appreciate the story @Ghelfi, some might wonder what is been written hence I had to do a translation of your post. If you could let us know when you're doing any updates to the story so we can be prepared to translate when it comes. Just trying to make things easier.

I hope do you have updates because it would be nice to have a Brazilian club-based story on here. Always willing to offer help and advice if needed. 👍

2024-2025 Season: Climb Ev'ry mountain…. - Volume 2 Chapter 3

With apologies to Julie Andrews as well as Rodgers and Hammerstein.

The Euros are drawing to a close as we went into the midweek semi-finals, the Netherlands against Italy in Munich's Allianz Stadium and Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions looking to end 58 years of hurt against Austria in Dortmund which on paper is the easiest semi-final they could have asked for. Or would they end up screwing it up when it comes to the crunch like previous squads have done so often in the past?  Three years ago, on home soil, England predictably lost a penalty shootout for the umpteenth time to keep the nation waiting for success. After winning all three of their group games, seeing off Serbia with ease and then getting the better of the hosts on penalties; hopes are high.

I watched the Netherlands-Italy match in my Dortmund hotel room, Ronald Koeman taking Luciano Spalletti. Could the Azzurri make a second successive Final and gear up for a possible third win of the Henri Delaunay Trophy or would the Dutch make a second Final with their last appearance being the 1988 one which they won, ironically in (West) Germany against the Soviet Union when Marco van Basten (whom I share a birthday with) scored one of the best goals ever seen in the European Championships Finals like ever. That volley from the acutest of acute angles that dipped over Rinat Dasayev and went into the top far corner, stupendous. A goal worthy of winning any Final, and as for that kit…iconic as! Anyway this semi-final was as tight and as tense as many expected, with both sides not wanting to lose. Italy took the lead in the sixth minute when an overlapping run from right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo was tucked away from inside the six yard box by Napoli's Giacomo Raspadori. Perfect start for the holders but they received an injury blow four minutes later when Federico Chiesa pulled up with a leg injury whilst sprinting onto a pass.

The Dutch equalised midway through the first half when Man of the Match Arnaut Danjuma of Villarreal (formerly of AFCB, Everton and Tottenham) crossed for Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna to drill a firm shot across Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the far corner for 1-1, his first senior international goal. Neither side wanted to concede again so it became a game of cat and mouse for a while. The Dutch edged in front 18 minutes from time when Federico Gatti was adjudged to have fouled Steven Berghuis as he headed a Teun Koopmeiners free kick. Koopmeiners, a new Real Madrid signing, stepped forward and sent Donnarumma the wrong way from twelve yards. Try as they might, Italy were unable to get back on terms and their reign as European Champions is now over. Who would the Dutch play in Sunday's finale?

Thursday night in Dortmund, could the Three Lions reach their second successive European Championships Final? Well Southgate surprised everyone by making four changes from the team that started against Germany. Out went both full backs Kyle Walker and Luke Shaw, defensive midfielder Declan Rice and attacking option Phil Foden. In their place came defenders Marc Guéhi and Ben Chilwell with Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan switched to right-back, Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips alongside Jordan Henderson in the midfield engine room and Marcus Rashford wide-left. None of the four that were replaced had been suspended in advance so the decisions were baffling to say the least against an Austrian side managed by former Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhüttl.

Nothing really happened in the opening 25 minutes, it was dead boring to be fair so much so that it felt as interesting as watching paint proverbially dry off. Then with the first sight of goal, England were ahead when Rashford picked out Jude Bellingham who produced a composed finish into the far corner. The lead only lasted six minutes when Xaver Schlager found Dijon Kameri just outside the six yard box and he crashed it home past Jordan Pickford. Yet three minutes after that equaliser, England regained their lead when Chilwell's corner was met by a thumping header from John Stones. It got better still in the 42nd minute when Chilwell sent captain Kane through with a beautifully weighted pass and the skipper drilled it into the corner, However, we had to wait for a couple of minutes as VAR checked for offside but all was good and the Three Lions would go in at half time 3-1 ahead and with one foot literally planted into Sunday's Final.

Austria needed to score the next goal to give them some hope and they started to give it a good go to be fair. With 19 minutes to go, David Alaba of Real Madrid sent in an outswinging corner which was met by the head of midfielder Samson Baidoo but the Bayern youngster headed over the bar when his nation would have preferred to have had it that bit lower. They went closer still seven minutes post the Baidoo chance when goalscorer Kameri clipped the bar with an effort from the edge of the area. Could Lady Luck be on Southgate and England's side? Well they got the fourth a minute afterwards to secure their place with Chilwell again having an important role as it was his pass into Kane who slipped it inside to Raheem Sterling for a calm finish into the bottom corner. 4-1, job done.

So it's an Netherlands-England final on Sunday in Berlin. Will it be a second crown for the men in orange or will the Three Lions finally end their trophy drought stretching all the way back to 1966 and all that.  Time to change hotels for one last time…

2024-2025 Season: More Euro 2024 musings… - Volume 2 Chapter 2

With things seemingly all good back in South Belfast, I continued to stay in Germany to watch some more of the tournament. In fact my presence was being noted by some journalist from the Belfast Telegraph, who wrote a piece and in it: proclaimed me as “a fervent patriot” of my national side. Actually that kind of flattered me as I have never seen myself as an England supporter. In fact, I have always seen myself as a supporter of Scotland since my father came from the East End of Glasgow so to have me described as an England fan is nothing far from the truth. Journalists, eh? They're damn good at making up things to sell papers and it looks like this is a classic case of that. Next thing, they'll be declaring me as Carol Vorderman's latest love interest. As if….

With Scotland out of the tournament, and in typical Scotland fashion where they imploded when they looked set fair for a rare appearance in the knockout stages of a major tournament, I decided to follow the rest of England's performances whilst they remained in it. My next step was to stay in Gelsenkirchen where I had seen said Scotland exit and see England take on Scotland's conquerors Serbia. With Luke Shaw injured, Gareth Southgate drafted in Ben Chilwell of Chelsea as his replacement and it proved to be a real red letter day for the man otherwise known as HEK, the national team captain. The biggest surprise was that it took England 37 minutes to break the deadlock. Jude Bellingham worked the ball into Kane and the captain rifled a left foot effort into the roof of the Serbian net.

Then as half time approached, the Three Lions and Captain Harry had a second. This time it was right wing back Kyle Walker with the inch perfect slide rule pass and Kane whipped a right foot shot across the keeper and into the far top corner. Natural hat-trick incoming, maybe?  Well we had to wait for the 73rd minute before he completed his treble and once more it was a true poacher's finish that Serbia could do absolutely nothing about. It began when Chilwell sent the ball down the left for Marcus Rashford (who had come on for Phil Foden) to hare onto, and his drilled low cross was turned in by Kane from about a couple of yards out. Job complete for Southgate's men. Now for the hosts in the quarter-final, could they take a massive step forwards to ending the hurt?

Obviously someone in the BelTel newsroom must have been thought it was a slow news day back home, as suddenly there was a “story” on there about Carol Vorderman and little old me. Some might think she's nothing special, some think she's an absolute babe but can you imagine it if true. Her brains would blow my mind never mind getting to grips with her airbags. I mean I was getting calls off Kyle, Johnny Wilson, Jonathan Doyle and Owen Madine asking if there was any legs in the piece. I poured cold water on it, the only legs involved were hers. Anyway I rang the BelTel up from my hotel in Berlin where I was staying ahead of the quarter-final and demanded an apology. They admitted it was a bit demeaning to myself and CV, and took the story down with an apology in its place. Nobody contacted Carol for her opinion though….

With a week or so of the tournament left, I made an executive decision. I was going to stay in Germany for the rest of the tournament and see it through. Well since Kyle was doing such a grand job back in South Belfast, I had nothing to concern myself over until the BelTel rang me again. More Carol Vorderman rumours or was it some other celebrity babe I was being romantically linked to? No, apparently this time I'm being linked with a move from The Dub to manage Dundela in the Championship. I told them not to be so bloody stupid and that I had no intention of leaving. I had a plan for PSNI and it was something I wanted to see come to fruition. As soon as the BelTel call ended, Ken was on the line…

“Mark, Mark…you're leaving us after one season. Can't believe it.” Ken spluttered.

“What? Who the absolute fudge has told you that?" I responded.

“It's, it's all over the news outlets here. I thought we had an agreement.”

“Look Ken, I'm going nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. I've told the BelTel that Dundela can go and kiss my backside. I'm staying!”

“Sure? You're not going?”

“100 per cent Ken not going. Will be back on the 15th in time for the start of pre-season training. You got me word.”

“Alright, alright. I'll calm down now.”

“Aye dead on, you do that Ken. See you on the 15th when the players also return.”

There was actually a good reason why I was staying in Germany until the Finals had completed, it would mean that I would miss the madness of the Twelfth. As a devout Roman Catholic boy, I absolutely have nothing to do with the Twelfth “celebrations” which go on here. Perhaps the Ballymacash supporters thought it would be a great idea to serenade me in that final away game of the season with their full repertoire. They'd obviously done some homework on me. Anyway I would miss the flutes and the drums, and instead of focus on other things such as the Final of the tournament which would be played a couple of days later. Obviously, who would be playing in it seemed a long way off. I was just enjoying the tournament with no pressure on my shoulders. 

Anyway the first Saturday in July brought the third quarter-final and the clash between the two old foes, England v Germany under the lights in Berlin. Luke Shaw replaced Ben Chilwell in the starting eleven for Southgate, and they made a positive start when Jude Bellingham struck the foot of the post after just five minutes. It was a warning shot for the host nation, one that they didn't heed as the Three Lions went deservedly ahead in the 13th when Foden played Bellingham who struck a low shot across Manuel Neuer and into the far corner. But had there been offside against the Real midfielder? After a VAR check, the goal was good and the England support danced with delight. Midway through the half it was almost 2-0 but Raheem Sterling's shot clipped the bar with Neuer beaten all ends up. Then the host nation equalised with their first shot on goal two minutes later when Joshua Kimmich's run and pull back was tucked away by Florian Wirtz for 1-1.

Six minutes after that equaliser, England were back in front when Jordan Henderson found Bellingham in a pocket of space and he shifted the ball from one foot to the other before lashing it into the roof of the net. The Three Lions were dominant and thought they had gone 3-1 ahead with just 14 minutes left to play, Henderson again the creator and this time it was volleyed into the far corner by Rashford who had replaced Foden at half time, This time though, VAR wasn't the friend the Three Lions thought it was as the Manchester United forward was correctly adjudged offside. Despite the dominance, the fear was that the Germans would grab a second equaliser against the run of play and that they did with five minutes left on the clock: Nico Schlotterbeck with a run that took him into the area and drive a low centre across the box for Wirtz to arrive and force home at the far post. Devastation for the Three Lions.

Extra-time came and went with no further goals although England nearly won in the first of two minutes added-on at the end of the second extra fifteen when substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold thudded a shot from distance against the post again with Neuer nowhere close to it. Germany had just had four shots in the whole 120 minutes, they weren't going to break England's hearts again in a shootout were they? Step forward a hero in the shape of Jordan Pickford of Washington, Tyne and Wear, as he saved from Niclas Füllkrug in the second round of kicks and then Thomas Müller with the German fourth attempt to seal the penalty shootout win by 4-2. Southgate's men will now face Austria in Dortmund on Thursday after the Austrians defeated Sweden in the fourth and final quarter-final the following day after the Three Lions win. The other semi-final sees the Netherlands take Italy in Munich meaning there's every chance we could have a repeat of the 2021 Final.

2024-2025 Season: A catch up on things back home… - Volume 2 Chapter 1 

Whilst I was travelling around Germany, watching the Euros, I made sure I never missed out on developments back in South Belfast by having frequent Zoom calls with my assistant manager Kyle (McDowell) who was handling things on my behalf, and it was incredibly busy with two more signings made and fixture news happening.

The new signings first, one of which was a familiar face to us all:

Joining us as a cover for centre half is 23 year old Bradley Lyttle, A native of Newtownabbey, Bradley has joined us on a free transfer from Distillery for whom he made eight appearances for last season. He played for St Mary's in Newtownabbey initially before impressing enough to be picked up by Premiership side Ballymena United. Whilst he didn't break into the first team for the Club based in the town where Liam Neeson was born, he was picked up by the Whites in 2023 following a second spell at St Mary's before his move to ourselves this summer.

One hopes that Mr Neeson doesn't contact the Club if we don't play Bradley and paraphrase his iconic monologue to Kyle or myself:

“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you’re looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let Bradley play now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you. I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

It won't come to that I'm sure otherwise, I'm outta here quicker than Usain Bolt does a 100 metre sprint.

The second signing was that of Cain Stewart who has made his loan move from HW Welders, a permanent one on a free transfer. Whilst on loan last season, Cain played initially as a winger but when we switched to 4-4-2, became the regular strike partner to top scorer Jonathan Doyle. He ended up with a reasonable 14 goals in 35 League and Cup appearances. I'm hoping he kicks on further now as a permanent signing especially with more competition for places around.

We have also learned that Donegal Celtic are the team that have replaced Tobermore United who were relegated in 2023-24. We open our new league campaign with a midweek game against Portstewart at The Dub, just three days after starting the season proper with a Second Round Steel and Sons Cup game of which we are the defending title holders. Kyle's been busy also sorting some friendlies out, four of which are away from home. The first of these sees us take on Greenisland at Glenkeen Avenue on 20 July 2024, followed by games at Tandragree Rovers, Shankill United and Immaculata. The sole home friendly at the moment is on 13 August 2024 against Crewe United. That might change.

Although the squad did pretty well after recovering from an early season blip, I still think we're carrying too much deadwood in the reserves and first team and would like to move some on. Problem is finding adequate replacements, the players we're interested in all have one thing in common: their demands for turning out for us..they're much higher than we can afford. Wonder if it's time to talk to Ken about this? Knowing our Ken, he'll think we're OK and those players are just being unreasonable with what they want. Silly old badger….

2023-2024 Season: Off to the Euros… - Chapter 64

So armed with a new contract and a productive end of season meeting with the Chairman, I knew I needed a break to recharge the old body batteries ahead of coming back to South Belfast refreshed for season two. Entrusting everything in the hands of Callum (McGuigan) who is our Director of Football and Kyle (McDowell) aka my number two, I headed out to Germany for this summer's European Championships. Granted I was not there to run the rule over prospective new signings, I just saw it as a break to watch some of Europe;s finest talents strutting their stuff on a very big stage. With England and Scotland both qualified, and in separate groups, I could zip around Germany watching both countries games.

Arriving in Germany the day before England's opener against Czechia, both the hosts Germany and the holders Italy made similar starts: winning 1-0. Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions played their first game in Stuttgart, and they had no problems in dealing with a very disappointing Czechia side: running out 4-0 winners. Jude Bellingham, fresh from his Champions League win, bagged a hat-trick and skipper Harry Kane bagged his 63rd international goal on his 91st international appearance. The goals from Bellingham (his first) and Kane came in the opening 16 minutes as England controlled the match from start to finish. After a day off, it was time to head into Dortmund to watch Scotland open their campaign against France: a game that few gave the Tartan Army very little chance in. That seemed realistically as goals from Kingsley Coman and Antoine Griezmann had Les Bleus 2-0 ahead in the first eight minutes. Cardiff's David Turnbull halved the deficit nine minutes before half time but Milan's Olivier Giroud made it 1-3 just after the hour. France were reduced to ten when Lucas Hernandez was sent off in the 68th minute, and Grant Hanley made it a one goal game again 12 minutes from the end but the French held on.

After another day off which saw Germany record another 1-0 win, it was time to go to the nation's financial capital, Frankfurt to watch England's second group game. This would be their toughest group game against two-time tournament winners Spain. and they went in at half time 1-1 with Manchester City's Phil Foden equalising on the half hour after Gerard had opened the scoring with a 12th minute penalty. The Villarreal man scored his second in the 51st minute to restore the Spaniards lead but two goals in five minutes in the latter stages from Kane and then a winner from Arsenal's Declan Rice ensured the Three Lions were in the knockout stages with a game to spare. After seeing in the summer solstice, the following day saw us in Hamburg for Scotland's second game: this time against Sweden and what a cracker it was. Against the odds, Scotland won by the odd goal in seven. Che Adams and Turnbull had them 2-0 in the first seven minutes and the former Celtic man scored his second and third of the tournament in the 41st minute to make it 0-3. Shellshocked, Sweden then scored two of their own in three minutes to make it 2-3 by the hour. Adams made it 2-4 in the 68th minute and although Kristoffer Olsson made it 3-4 in the 77th minute, Scotland stayed firm and now are eyeing up the knockout stages themselves.

A few days rest and sightseeing saw us head to Cologne for the final group game for England on June 25, and they finished with a flourish as they recorded their second 4-0 win: this time against Montenegro. Once more it was a fast start that won the game with Bellingham, Luke Shaw and a Kane penalty on target in seven first half minutes to have the game declared over and done after just 19 minutes. Kane scored his second and fourth of the tournament with ten minutes to go where they will play one of the best third-placed sides next. So the stage was set again for Scotland, they knew they could probably qualify with a draw but in typical Scotland fashion: they imploded. Serbia defeated them 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen thanks to goals from Dusan Tadic and Nemanja Radonjic, thereby sending Scotland from second to last in their group in 90 mad minutes. Serbia's reward? They stay in Gelsenkirchen for a game on Sunday against, you guessed it…England!

Nice act of loyalty there, shows a high bar of commitment to the cause.

That's a tight top five at the end of the first half of the season, and you're well in the mix. Strength in depth might be crucial.

2023-2024 Season: More improvements - Chapter 63

As the players were away on holiday, I was determined to try and push things through as part of my personal mission to try and make strides forwards. This involved some discussion time with Ken. I had three main things on my mind, would Ken agree?

“Ken, can I have a few words please?”

“Sure. take a seat Mark. What's on your mind? Is there anything I can do?”

I cut straight to the chase.

“Ken, I have three main proposals for you.”

“Sounds interesting Mark, what do you have in mind?”

“First of all, I would like to see if we could have a Under 18s side to supplement the Reserves and First Team. I've been chatting with Callum (McGuigan) about this proposal and he thinks it could be a good one. But obviously it's your call to go with it or not."

“Sure Mark, why not. I take it there's some talented youngsters out there who could be the stars of tomorrow if we go ahead with it?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, this request is granted.”

“Brilliant. Proposal two is linked to this: Callum is going to source us a Head of Youth Development and a Under 18s assistant manager: thereby ensuring we bring in a specialised team for the new side.”

“Excellent, means you aren't overburdening you or your existing staff then. I like it. So what's proposal three?"

“I would like us to source the opportunity to partner up with a bigger-name team.”

“And the benefit of that is?”

“We get some of the big name team's hot prospects here, and give them game time in a competitive league which they might not get elsewhere.”

“Not so sure on this one Mark, can't see the benefits for us so I'm going to have to decline this one.”

“OK, I feel a bit disappointed Ken. Sure you won't re-consider?”

“Sorry, I don't think it's the right thing for us to aim at.”

“Fair play.”

“Anything else?”

“No, I'll let Callum and he can crack on with the recruitment aspect.”

So we now have a proper structure in place from Under 18s to First Team, and within a couple of days we had the men in place. Joining us to run the Under 18s are Neal Smyth, a 34 year old native of Castledawson, who will head the Youth set up as Head of Youth Development and manager of the newly created side. Neal will be assisted by Joel Madison, a 37 year old native from West Belfast. The impact was immediate as we signed our first ever batch of youth prospects within days which included a 15 year old striker who could play for either Sweden or Northern Ireland in the future. Who knows what talents might come out of our youth squad? The new George Best maybe?

Time for a wee holiday now. Destination: European Championships in Germany.

2023-2024 Season: What happened elsewhere as June arrives - Chapter 62

In this post, we recap what happened in the season just completed at home and elsewhere in some of Europe's leagues. Plus a round up of the European Club Competitions.

Northern Ireland: The Premiership title was won for a second successive season by Tiernan Lynch and Larne by four points from Irish Cup runners-up Crusaders who will feature in next season's Europa Conference League with their Irish Cup conquerors Coleraine and Glentoran. Missing out on European football next season are 56-times Gibson Cup winners Linfield and North Belfast powerhouse Cliftonville. Loughgall, in their first season back in the top division since 2006-07, finished bottom and will be replaced by Championship winners Portadown. The Relegation/Promotion Play-Off saw 11th placed Premiership side Ballymena United retain their status in the top flight with a 3-2 aggregate win over Championship runners-up Bangor.

England: It was a fourth successive Premier League crown for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, and won by a comfortable margin of 11 points. Joining City in next season's Champions League are runners-up Liverpool, London sides Chelsea and Arsenal as well as fifth-placed Manchester United. Brighton, Newcastle United and Aston Viila will be in the Europa League whilst Tottenham Hotspur will feature in the Europa Conference League. At the other end of the table former Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray was powerless to stop Sheffield United making an immediate return to the Championship where they will be joined by Wolves and Luton Town who finished 19th and 18th respectively.

Southampton won the Sky Bet Championship by 11 points with an impressive 98 points haul for Russell Martin's Saints. Leicester City picked up the runners-up berth, leaving Leeds United, Ipswich Town, Norwich City and Middlesbrough to go through the play-off lottery. Leeds saw off Middlesbrough 2-1 over two legs, whilst Ipswich defeated East Anglia rivals Norwich 5-3 in their semi-final. The Final at Wembley saw Ipswich return to the top table for the first time since 2002 with a penalty shoot-out win in an absolute thriller. Twice Leeds led through Désiré Doué and Joe Rodon but twice Ipswich equalised through George Hirst and Wes Burns despite having skipper Sam Morsy sent off for two yellows in two minutes at the start of the second half. With no goals in the remaining 17 minutes of normal time and through extra time. it was down to penalties where Chelsea loanee Sam Hutchinson scored the crucial kick in the fifth round of efforts.

Millwall, Huddersfield Town and Preston North End occupied the three Championship relegation places with Derby County (as Champions), Peterborough United and play-off winners Lincoln City replacing them from League One. Dropping into League Two are Reading, Carlisle United, Cheltenham Town and Exeter City for 2024-2025; with Stockport County (League Two Champions), Bradford City, Sutton United and play-off winners Wrexham. Crewe Alexandra and Accrington Stanley have been demoted to the National League with former League clubs Chesterfield and York City taking their respective places. The FA Cup saw City defeat Manchester neighbours United 4-3 on penalties with Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson scoring the all-decisive penalty, the sides had been locked at 2-2 after extra time. Meanwhile, two goals from Gabriel Jesus helped Arsenal recover from a Mohamed Salah goal and take the Carabao Cup to North London: Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson scoring the Gooners' other goal.

Scotland: The Cinch Premiership title went to Ibrox by a seven point margin from fierce rivals Celtic who will look to progress in the Champions League via the qualifying rounds. The two places for the Europa League went to Edinburgh-based sides Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian with Aberdeen qualifying for the Conference. Dundee finished in bottom placed to be replaced by Raith Rovers whilst Greenock Morton, who finished 4th in the Championship standings, are also promoted after a 4-3 aggregate win in the Play-Off with 11th placed Premiership side Ross County. The Scottish FA Cup is heading to Gorgie after Lawrence Shankland's 50th minute goal sealed a 9th win of the famous old trophy and the first one since 2012, with Aberdeen on the losing side. Rangers also took the League Cup back to G51 with Scott Wright scoring a 97th minute extra time winner after Danilo had equalised Andrew Dallas' first half opener for losing finalists Kilmarnock.

Spain: La Liga is bound for Catalan giants Barcelona for the 28th time in their history, as they won it by a single point from arch rivals Real Madrid. Also qualifying for next season's Champions League as Spain's representatives are Atlético Madrid, Alavés and Osasuna with Real Sociedad and Getafe in the Europa League and Real Betis Balompié in the Conference League. Unlike Manchester City, Barcelona did not complete the double as a brace from Vinicius Junior helped Real to a 3-2 extra time win. Barca had looked good though for that double thanks to goals from Ferran Torres and Araujo sandwiching Vinicius' first effort until Alvaro equalised in the 90th minute.

Italy: Under the stewardship of Simone Inzaghi, Inter Milan won their 20th Scudetto title ahead of City rivals AC and third placed Napoli. This record is only bettered by Juventus who have a remarkable 36. Juve did win the Coppa Italia for a 15th time, overcoming Napoil in the Final played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Germany: Predictably enough Bayern Munich, featuring Harry Kane, secured their 34th Bundesliga title and 12th in a row. Germany's other representatives in next seasons Champions League will be RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart. Bayer 04 Leverkusen and SC Freiburg will compete in the Europa League whilst VfL Wolfsburg will be in the Conference League. The DfB Pokal saw Dortmund victorious thanks to a 3-0 win over Leverkusen, Julian Brandt with a brace and Karim Adeyemi scored all the goals in the first half.

France: Paris Saint-Germain are Ligue 'Un for a 12th time this season and for the third season in a row. They also completed a domestic double when winning Le Coupe de France on penalties 3-0 against Nice after the sides were locked at 2-2 after extra time. PSG won the league by an astonishing 22 points with just one league loss all season. Nice, Strasbourg and Stade de Reims all qualify for the Champions League, AS Monaco and Olympique Marsellie will be in the Europa League with Rennes taking the Conference League spot.

Now for the Europran Club Competitions:

UEFA Champions League: Wembley hosted this season's Champions League Final between Real Madrid and their City rivals Atlético. It looked like Real's attempt to win their 15th Cup would be derailed when right-back Dani Carvajal was red-carded for a two-footed lunge on Antoine Griezmann in just the 18th minute. An 11th minute brace from Vinicius Junior put Los Blancos two goals to the good, and despite Samuel Lino halving the deficit with a quarter of an hour left: Real held on for the win.

UEFA Europa League: It was an all-Premier League Europa League Final in Dublin as Newcastle took on Liverpool., and it was the Reds who took the trophy home with them by triumphing 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time with Diogo Jota scoring the decisive penalty past Nick Pope whilst Alisson saved shootout efforts from Bruno Guimarães and Miguel Almirón. The game itself saw Luis Diaz score twice for the winners whilst both the Toon Army's goals were own goals: Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk and Scotlland left-back Andrew Robertson putting the ball into their own net in the 3rd and 87th minutes respectively.

UEFA Conference League: There was Premier League success for the second season running in the Conference League, and once more for a team wearing claret and blue. This time it was Aston Villa's turn to lift this trophy as they overcame Norwegians Bodø.Glimt 3-1 in Piraeus. Albert Gronbæk gave the Elitserien side the lead after half an hour but Douglas Luiz equalised in first half added-on time. Second half goals from Moussa Diaby, his 12th in the competition, and Leon Bailey ensured the trophy would go to Birmingham.

UEFA Super Cup: Argentine striker Julian Alvarez scored both goals for City as they overcame Sevilla 2-1 in Piraeus, Greece. Sevilla's goal was scored by Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitić. Rakitić would finish the season by joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab on a last-day Winter Transfer Window free transfer.

UEFA Youth League: It was a victory for La Masia as the Barcelona Under 19s took this title on penalties after a 2-2 draw following 120 minutes with their Manchester City counterparts. The winning penalty was converted by the son of a former Barcelona striker, remember the name Shane Patrick Kluivert.

2023-2024 Season: Final Standings and it's four in and five (realistically) out…. - Chapter 61

The season is now officially over…

The last two matches of the season saw Intermediate League, in other words our league, runners-up Warrenpoint Town take on Championship 11th placed side Newington over two legs. The winner of this play-off would in Warrenpoint's case be promoted back to the Championship after a one season absence or retain their Championship status if you were Newington. So how did it pan out?

The first leg was played at Milltown on 4 May 2024 and The Point roared to a 3-0 lead in the first 22 minutes. Teenage winger Ryan Jones, just 16, opened the scoring in only the third minute with Stephen McCavitt adding a second just seven minutes later. Linfield loanee Rhys Annett made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute as the home side dominated proceedings. Francis Rice pulled one back for Newington twelve minutes from time to hand a glimmer for the Ton in Tuesday's second leg at Inver Park. 

However any hope of Newington coming back from the deficit was diminished in just the second minute of that leg when Annett scored his second of the contest. Right-back Ray O'Sullivan made it 0-2 on the night and 5-1 for The Point on aggregate in the 14th minute, with McCavitt scoring again to make it 0-3 (1-6) four minutes from half time. Rory Donnelly, on loan from Glentoran, converted a penalty just after the hour but that was just consolation as Warrenpoint strolled to victory on the night and overall.

Therefore the final standings are as follows:

Saturday afternoon saw the showpiece event, the Irish Cup Final at the National Stadium. The trophy is heading to the North Coast town of Coleraine for the seventh time in its history, and the first time since 2018, as the Bannsiders overcame Crusaders 2-0. Goals early in each half from wingers Jamie Glackin (14) and Andrew Scott (50) did the trick for Oran Kearney's side, in fact they were Coleraine's only two shots on target in the game. It was pretty enjoyable for ‘keeper Rory Brown, defender Rodney Brown and forwards Glackin and Jamie McGonigle (a 61st substitute for Scott): all former ’Crues players. Huge congratulations to all!

Meanwhile back here at The Dub, we decided to release four players as part of our re-build for 24-25. Leaving for pastures new, but yet to be confirmed, are veteran Gary Brown, defenders James Turk and Jordan Diven as well as striker Henry Capper. Veteran right-back Mark McCullagh, 37, will also be leaving the Club as he has decided to hang his boots up and end his footballing career on 23 May 2024: thereby ending a career that saw him feature for Ballymena United and Alloa Athletic. We wish all of them the best of luck with their future endeavours.

Coming into the team as our first signings for the new campaign are as follows, and all on free transfer captures:

Ethan Sousa, a highly rated 18 year old central midfield prospect, with dual Northern Irish/Portuguese nationality. Ethan was released by Loughgall at the end of the recent campaign but has been on the schoolboy schemes of Warrenpoint Town, Dundalk, Dungannon Swifts, Newry City and Portadown.

Daniel Reynolds, a 25 year old winger who can also play up front, similar to Cain Stewart, also joins after a season out of the game. Daniel has played in the Premiership with Cliftonville (where he started his career), Linfield and Carrick Rangers as well as Ards and Larne (when they were at that level) in the Championship.

Cathal Farren, another 25 year old. Cathal, who can play in an attacking midfield role or as a striker, has played in the League of Ireland with Derry City but was also on the books of Lurgan-based side Glenavon in the Premiership. He has since played in the Championship with Dergview and Ballyclare Comrades.

Éric Akassou, a 31 year old striker who gives us that bit of experience up front. Éric is like, fellow newcomer Ethan Sousa, a dual nationality as he was born in Italy to Ivorian parents. He came through the schoolboy scheme at Torino but has since played his football in Switzerland, France, Mongolia (?) and England before taking his abilities to HW Welders FC where he was a team-mate of our loan signing this season: Cain Stewart.

There might be more….

2023-2024 Season: And that's a wrap! - Chapter 60

“And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain…”

Not fully but the end of the first season in charge of PSNI, and boy it's been a heck of a ride for sure. We've had highs and lows for sure, and have met our expectations that Scrooge, aka Chairman Ken, set out for us in July 2023 plus a little bit more. We have just one league game to deal, and know full well that we wlll finish 6th at best. We could be Tobemore United who are facing Level 4 football next season, relegated with a game left with the grand total of just 12 points from 25 games so far. That unbeaten from mid-December to mid-March saw us into mid-table comfort and with high hopes that we can use it as a springboard for the next campaign.

Nothing wrong with consolidation, especially in an environment that's all brand new.

This final match of the season sees Warrenpoint Town visit The Dub, and “The Point” were most pundits opinion to take the title this season. They could still do that but results need to happen in their favour. Up to a couple of seasons ago, they were a top division side but back to back relegations has seen them tumble into the Intermediate League. Naturally the bookies are believing that the positions in the league standings are going to be reflected in the outcome of the match as they have made Warrenpoint 4-5 favourites to leave with all three points. We are 3-1 to make it three wins on the spin and you can get 11-4 if you reckon that the sides are going to shake hands on a draw.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 136 (48 away)

We're unchanged for our last game of the season as we want to finish the season on a high. Meanwhile visitors Warrenpoint made a single change from their last line up, Joe Gorman coming in for Bradley Rogers at left back as they chase the three points that might see them lift the Intermediate League crown. For them teh equation is simple, beat us and hope that Moyola Park do the same to current first-placed incumbents Dollingstown. Hoping for a favour from us believe it or not, are Queens as they know if we beat Warrenpoint and they take a maximum haul at Portstewart then they will be in the play-off against the 11th placed side from the Championship. The game at Milltown earlier in the season saw us record a surprise 2-1 away win thanks to goals from Ben Mitchell and Romanian winger Raul Zabrauteanu (now of Knockbreda) with Jack Deery scoring for “The Point”. Warrenpoint's side today features 38 year old John Boyle in central defender and three loan signings from the Premiership in the shape of Dane McCullough, Rhys Annett and Kye Livingstone: the first two from Linfield and the other from Larne.

With the rain falling incessantly, we made an excellent start with a goal in the third minute when Owen Madine's corner was headed by Andrew Ferguson into the path of central defensive partner Louis McKeown who headed it downwards and subsequenly into the roof of the Warrenpoint. But it was just the wake call up that The Point needed as they equalised ten minutes later. Receiving a ball from Ray O'Sullivan, Livingstone surged into the area and his well struck effort was pushed out by Jonah Magill but straight into the path of Rhys Annett (no relation to our Zach) who prodded it home. 

They went in front just after the half hour when Livingstone went down under a challenge from Annett. Stuart Hutchinson, who had two spells with us in the 2010s, stepped up and blasted in the spot kick: it was his 22nd of the season which is quite remarkable for a central midfielder at any level. Remarkably they didn't add to their tally despite dominating the game in all areas, possession etc. Yet we could have grabbed a last second equaliser when Cain Stewart finished superbly from a Johnny Wilson cross. However, our celebrations were muted when a flag for offside against the striker went up. Replays showed it was correct, but only just. That result though didn't give Warrenpoint the title as Dollingstown secured it with a 3-0 win away to Moyola Park in Coleraine.

Rhys Annett took the Man of the Match beers home with him, with our goalscorer McKeown being our best performer. We finish 6th, which all things considered is an achievement in itself.

Coming next: We conclude the rest of the season, and then get prepared for season two!

Jaden Heskey, as in big Emile's lad?

Nice capture to grab someone off the PL heavyweight, I assume it's a season long loan right?

Hopefully he's a bit of a chip off the old block as in a target man who you can make things happen around him and he throws in a few goals too.

You've got to prove yourselves again, perhaps a season of consolidation wouldn't be a bad thing. Good luck Kyle, again.

2023-2024 Season: 'Away the Lads! - Chapter 59

It had been a very good week for the team and me as well as a rule. Not had we found the winning groove again by seeing off Coagh United at The Dub, but from a personal standpoint: I had agreed terms on a new one-year contract to take me through to June 2025 albeit on the same terms and expectations despite our Steel and Sons Cup success. 

Would have been to get a pay increase and some kind of long-term plan in place but not. Our Chairman Ken Green, strictly off the record, is as tight as a duck's a**e! That's why it came as a major surprise that he bought me a pint last Saturday post-game, thought blooming moths were going emerge from his wallet when he opened it.

Our last game this Saturday sees us head towards to Lisburn and face Ballymacash Rangers. Their supporters know about me and I'm expecting a bit of verbal from them. Why? Well their support is a prominent Protestant background and follow the Glaswegian version in the SPL, I don't have the same feelings and never will do to be honest…I'm no Maurice Johnston! Despite our first win in four, and loftier league standing, the bookies certainly think that the home side will take all three points in their last home game of the season. Ballymacash are 10-11 favourites to win whilst if you think we can make it back to back wins then you can get 9-4 for that. It's 13-5 if you think we will shake hands on a draw once more.

Bluebell Stadium, Lisburn

Attendance: 106 (47 away)

Despite the home win against Coagh, we decided we would not go with an unchanged side to visit the Bluebell Stadium and instead make three changes. Andrew Ferguson returned from his one match suspension to replace Ben Mitchell in central defence, Mitchell suspended himself for a match after accumulating too many suspension points over the season. Also coming into the side were Craig Briers for Mark McCullagh at right-back whilst Alexandre Machado returned back to the right wing to accommodate former Crusaders man Sam Morrow on the left with Aaron Porter dropping out. The home side made just one change with former Linfield and Portadown striker Aaron Duke replacing former Glentoran striker Carl McComb who is recovering from a very badly broken arm which is a season ending injury. The Cash Rangers have plenty of experience from the top division in their starting eleven with keeper Brian Neeson (no, no relation to Liam) who featured for Larne, Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville, central midfielder Gareth Tommons: formerly of Coleraine and Ards and winger Dylan Davidson: once of Glentoran.

Ballymacash are captained by journeyman English striker Bennie Igiehon who has played for a variety of non-league clubs over the water, Switzerland for FC Langenthal before trying his luck on both sides of the Irish border. The corresponding game earlier in the season saw Cain Stewart open the scoring in first half time added-on with his first of the season, and it looked to be the winner until Gary Warwick came off the bench to curl in an equaliser with virtually the final kick of the match.

Both sides were forced into a change as early as the 11th minute when the home side's Josh Cahoon and our very own skipper Johnny Wilson were unable to continue after a fair old clash between both parties, not malicious. We took the lead in the 29th though when the recalled Briers crossed for the equally recalled Morrow to head in at the far post via said woodwork for his first ever PSNI goal. Five minutes before half time, we and the winger had two: Zach Annett feeding Morrow to manoeuvre himself into position before curling a shot out of the reach of Neeson. If that had been good, the second half was even more remarkable stuff indeed!

Just after the hour, the home side halved the deficit when Warwick's header saw hesitation in our back line and Tommons took advantage to strike it beyond Jonah Magill. It would spark three goals inside seven minutes. We went 3-1 ahead when Louis Blackstock delicately played it over the home defence and Stewart volleyed home fiercely past Neeson but that was not all as Ballymacash made it 2-3 in the 68th minute when a slick break saw Duke's pass split us open and Igiehon was still onside to stride on and fire in at the near post when Magill was expecting the latter. They pushed but we added a fourth as we entered seven minutes of time added-on when substitute Jake Moore (on for an off-form Jonathan Doyle) latched onto a long ball from Ferguson and calmly picked out Stewart for his second of the game with a tap-in. Yet Igiehon converted his second in the 93rd minute from a low Davidson cross but we held on. Some game!

Sam Morrow took home the Man of the Match beers back with him, for such an outstanding performance. For Ballymacash, skipper Igiehon was their own stand-out performer.

Keep up the adventure mate, good mix of write up and graphics alike.

Like that skin you're using, what's it called?

Well done securing the title mate.

Some effort indeed from Dowson, sure he was an apprentice at Sunderland back in the day. Sounds like he's your own personal Jamie Vardy.

What's next on the horizon? National League North?  Northern Premier League Premier Division?

Surprised the expansion to the Coach and Horses ground, in real life they're going to the Transport Grounds at Meadowhead sometime this year ahead of completion in time for the 2025-26 season.

Hopefully the new recruits can bed in quickly and you can have a consolidated 2024-25 campaign. Or are your sights set higher?

2023-2024 Season: Signed, sealed and delivered - Chapter 58

Post-game Coagh, I was surprised to see the Chairman walking towards me with a bit of a smile on his face. What was he smiling for? Was it showing a sigh of relief that he was happy that we had arrested (apologies for the pun) the losing streak or was it something else? I grasped my pint of Guinness tightly, and then he spoke:

“Mark, congratulations on that win today. Could have won by more, couldn't we?”

“Yes Mr Chairman, it was a pretty routine win. Just happy myself to get the losing streak monkey off our collective backs.”

“No need for formalities as I said from the day I appointed you, it's Ken not Mr Chairman.”

“Sorry, Ken.”

“Do you however remember our little chat a couple of weeks ago though?”

“Erm, I think so Ken.”

“Well I have news for you, I have been busy drawing up that new contract. Hadn't forgotten you see.”

“Ah okay.”

“Should be presented to you by the middle of the week. Hope you can accept the terms.”

“We'll certainly study it over Ken.”

“Good man. Call into my office when you have done so, door's always open. Now let me buy you a fresh pint.”

“Thank you.”

Well all that worrying over nothing, eh? A new contract in the offing but what terms was Ken going to issue was the question in my mind as he handed me a fresh pint of the black stuff in the bar. The least I was hoping for was the same as this deal, a pay cut would not be acceptable in any circumstances. So on Tuesday afternoon, whilst continuing my prep for Saturday's game at Ballymacash Rangers, the new contract offer arrived in my e-mails. Ken was offering the same terms with the same expectations as this season so as far as he was concerned, it was business as usual. However, I was hoping secretly it would be a 2 year deal in the hope we can kick onto the next level. I closed down my laptop and made the short journey to Ken's office, just down the corridor.

“Mark, you got the e-mail contract then?” Ken greeted me with.. 

“Yeah, seems unchanged from what I'm on now.”

“That's right. And?”

“Well Ken, I was hoping we could be a bit more ambitious. Say a two year deal on these terms?”

“Can't do, all about budgets. Those above me won't allow it. But you understand, right”

“Sure. But you know how good it is, this would be a real statement if we can…”

“No wriggle room, so sorry Mark.”

“Ah okay.”

So that was that, I signed the contract anyway much to Ken's delight but we now to assemble a squad capable of going the next stage forwards. If I want to be out of this damn forsaken Intermediate League then we had to do in the next two seasons in my eyes. And that means keeping holding of players such as Doyle, Madine etc. whilst adding a new 20 goal plus striker to the ranks. We've got the formation, just need to have the prolific strike force to help us finish off teams. A scorer like Joe Tully of Distillery or Zach Ferson of Queens…

But with a new contract in the bag, time to re-focus on Ballymacash and silence them on Saturday in the penultimate game of season one.

2023-2024 Season: Slide gets arrested… - Chapter 57

The mood in the dressing room after the Banbridge Town home defeat was one of anguish. We knew full well that we had blown a serious chance to possibly get a top five finish with that defeat, and although the Board still seem happy that we are achieving our objectives, in my mind then we are falling short when the crunch comes around. If we are to progress as I want, then we need to get out of the Intermediate League and into the Championship as soon as possible to give us the best hope of reaching the promised land.

There's nothing wrong with being a bit of an optimist is there?

We have a shot at redeeming ourselves in our next fixture as we host relegation threatened Coagh United at The Dub. Coagh are in serious bother as they are just four points clear of Tobemore United who currently occupy that relegation spot. They are going to be fighting for their wee lives it has to be said, and nothing would give them pleasure in inflicting a fourth straight defeat on us and boosting their hopes of avoiding the drop. Both the Board and our supporters think we are going, and so do the bookies for once in a wee lifetime. We're odds-on favourites at 10-11 to get back to winning ways this afternoon in our penultimate home match of the season. If you fancy an upset or a draw then you can get 13-5 for either.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 92 (7 away)

We had to make changes for this game, you can't stick with a side that has lost its last three can you. So we opted to make three changes to the starting line up, one of which was enforced on us though. That enforced change saw Ben Mitchell replace Andrew Ferguson in the centre of defence as “Fergie” serves his one match suspension. There's a change in central midfield and also on the wing too. Central midfield sees Owen Madine back alongside skipper Johnny Wilson in place of Louis Blackstock whilst Alexandre Machado moves into the left wing spot vacated by Sam Morrow, teenager Aaron Porter is given a start in the right wing slot. Both Blackstock and Morrow are on the bench. We could have changed more believe me. Coagh are unchanged from their last match however. The corresponding game at Hagan Park was the first game without 4-3-3 so hopefully 4-4-2 will see us back to winning ways, we won 2-1 then with first half goals from “Fergie” and Sean Hill.

An optimising beginning saw us almost take the lead inside six minutes but Madine's shot from distance was just a fraction over Will Hassan's crossbar. It was a warning that Coagh didn't heed as three minutes later, we were indeed in front. Emmanuel Omrore fouled Jonathan Doyle just outside the penalty area, near the right hand corner of it: Madine sized it up and showed great technique to curl the ball as well as up and over the wall to find the roof of the net with Hassan left absolutely helpless. An incredible strike from an incredible player. He created the second five minutes from half time with a perfectly judged pass over the Coagh defence for Doyle to crash home his 17th of the season from just inside the penalty area.

We almost had a third and another special from Madine in the early stages of the second half. It was another free kick from distance which the central midfielder curled goalwards but skimmed the bar and went just over rather dipping underneath it. After that the game became bitty and fluid football became a rarity but Coagh never had us in any bother, meaning that we could see the back of that wretched run and deepen their fears over the drop. Now where's this supposed new contract that the Board were promising me? Surely that three-game run of losses hasn't changed their minds? Over to you Mr Chairman….

Madine's stellar performance where he scored a worldie of a free kick and assisted on the other, saw him take the Man of the Match beers home with him. As for Coagh, their best performer was Omrore but I bet he's still regretting the concession of the dead ball situation which was punished oh so ruthlessly…

Midweek had seen Coleraine win the other Irish Cup semi-final against Portadown. The Bannsiders were 3-0 in the first 12 minutes thanks to goals from Matthew Shevlin, Rodney Brown and Jamie Glackin. “Ports” staged a recovery in the second half and reduced the arrears to just one goal through Ryan Mayse and a Paul McElroy penalty. However, in the remaining 17 minutes plus time added-on, Coleraine held on to book their Final berth against Crusaders at the National Stadium on Saturday 11 May 2024.

2023-2024 Season: If you don't take your chances you will lose…. - Chapter 56

So we're into the final month of season one at PSNI in the Intermediate League, aka the third tier of Northern Irish football. And safe to say, it has definitely been a challenge and a half. Never have I had to deal with a squad that could have its heart ripped out of it so easily, so to go into the final month and still harbouring a hope of a top half finish is quite remarkable.

Well, the Board wanted that so I'm on course to deliver.

They obviously think I'm a doing a pretty alright job, as they have decided to go ahead with a possible new contract on the table. Nothing has been outlined yet, but it's got to be realistically on the same terms as this initial one as a bare minimum if not slightly improved upon considering I've brought silverware in the shape of the Steel and Sons Cup already in the short time I've been here. Hopefully, if we finish well then we might be able to attract some newcomers and get rid of some of the unwanted ones. Keeping hold of top scorer Jonathan Doyle is one of my main plans. Anyway, we start April by playing one of three home games to finish the season off. 

Our opponent on the first Saturday in April is Banbridge Town, whom we have not had much luck against this season and the bookies certainly think we're going to go down to a third successive loss. They have made Town 7-5 favourites to leave The Dub with all three points, we're 9-5 ourselves and a draw can be found at 5-2. I don't like teams doing the double over us, Distillery are the only ones to do so at the moment. Let's put the record straight, eh?

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 78 (1 away)

So we made a sole change for Banbridge's trip to The Dub, that came on the left wing as Sam Morrow was recalled in the place of John-Joe MacDonald. However, there was a nice inclusion on the bench as Owen Madine was back in the first team picture after recovering from his ankle injury sustained against Distillery. Whilst Owen is far from fully fit, it's nice to have him back for the final run-in. Depending how it goes, we will probably utilise his services for the half hour. Banbridge made two changes from their last outing as goalkeeper Niall Brady returns in goal and former Queens striker John Deeney is given his Town debut alongside Nigerian striker Ebuka Kwelele. Kwelele, 21, has been a bit of a pain for us this season as he was involved in a debatable red card incident that saw Ben Mitchell sent off earlier in the season which the Lads still maintain he was play-acting and conning the referee. He has 28 goals this season, so is another striker who knows where the net is.

This is the third encounter between the sides this season, with Town having won both so far. They sent us out of the Irish Cup 2-1 with the departed Ernestas Verenka on target, and that came a week after edging us 3-2 in the league match which saw that afore-mentioned red card incident. Goalscorers for us in the league were Jonathan Doyle and a penalty from Andrew Ferguson. Ferguson goes into this game on a disciplinary tightrope of sorts, one more booking will see the veteran central defender pick up an automatic one-match suspension for five accumulated cautions.

The first real effort in anger came midway through the first half when Deeney fired inches wide from the edge of the area with Jonah Magill scrambling across his goal line. Perhaps a warning shot across the bows. However, we should have taken the lead a few minutes later when Morrow's left wing cross was met by a free header from Alexandre Machado but the Portuguese winger sent it over the bar instead. Two minutes after that opportunity, we took a 34th minute when skipper Johnny Wilson threaded the ball inside the full back and Machado finished well. But it didn't last long as Banbridge scored twice in the final five minutes of the half to go with a deserved 2-1 half time lead. First of all in the 40th minute, Kwelele's effort was parried by Magill and we didn't react to the loose ball thereby allowing Deeney to score on his debut with a simple finish. Then as the half time whistle was about to sound, Joshua Quinn's deep cross was met by a downward header from teenage winger Scott Gormley for 1-2. Half time speech well and truly ruined.

Gormley would be a nightmare all afternoon for us, and he gave Zach Annett an absolute roasting but the stern words at half time seemed to have an immediate effect as we restored parity just 53 seconds after the restart which had seen Banbridge do a triple substitution. A superbly weighted pass from Doyle saw strike partner Cain Stewart outstrip Andrew Martin and lashed an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net. Buoyed by the this, and on top, Doyle then saw Brady produce a brilliant save to stop his curling effort going in for 3-2. Yet talk about being deflated, we were when Martin lashed in a direct free-kick from fully 30 plus yards midway through the second, Magill given no chance whatsoever. 

Nineteen minutes from time, Banbridge made it 2-4 when Conor Curran's cross was converted at the far post by a Gormley half volley aided by the post; poor Annett thought the cross had been over-hit and was in no man's land as the 16 year old doubled his tally for the afternoon. Stewart thought he'd poked in his second with a minute to go after Machado had headed against the bar from a Craig Briers cross but he had been adjudged offside in the build up. Another of those what might have been days….

Tormentor-in-chief Gormley was given the Man of the Match award but since he's just 16, we couldn't hand him beer over so he had to make do with a case of Pepsi Max instead. Skipper Johnny Wilson was seen to be our best player on the day.

In the 63rd minute, Ferguson was cautioned by referee Gareth O'Donnell for a trip on Deeney. As a result he will now miss next week's away trip to Coagh United.

And finally, the first Irish Cup semi-final was played at the National Stadium this afternoon and it was a great day for Crusaders and their supporters as they saw off Ballymena United 5-1 helped by a brace from striker Aaron Prendergast. Left back Jarlath O'Rourke had given the North Belfast side an early lead which was cancelled out on the stroke of half time by Brendan Barr but Crues ran away with it in the second half…The second semi-final between Coleraine and Portadown will be played in the week and again at the National Stadium.

2023-2024 Season: The final month of the season… - Chapter 55

March ended with Moyola Park playing their outstanding game at home to Rathfriland Rangers. The lowly placed visitors surprised the Park by leaving Coleraine with a 1-0 away win.

So we start April, everyone has four league games to play and these are the standings:

The highest we can possibly finish, and it means winning all four games and results benefitting us elsewhere is 4th. On the flip side, the lowest we we can finish is 10th. I'd like to finish 6th if you ask me….and our next game is against Banbridge Town - the team directly above us! Destiny is in our own hands.

2023-2024 Season: Derby day despair as disallowed goal costs us - Chapter 54

Imagine the scene after the game against Distillery seven days previous, it felt like someone had squeezed all the air out of the balloon. We had seen our 11 game unbeaten run, 10 in the league alone, go up in the smoke. However, that's not a dig at Distillery at all though as they were just that much better than us on the day and we just have to suck up and go once more.

That said, who wants a first season promotion anyway?

Our next game sees us face our biggest and technically, closest rivals. Yet knowing that bragging rights are on the line against the Students, I felt a little bit let down by the reactions from the Board and our supporters: both are expecting us to slide to a second successive loss. Quite surprisingly really. I wouldn't mind personally to take all three and deflate their promotion balloon and maybe re-flicker the promotion flame of our own. Realistically, a defeat against Queens will mean that flame will be extinguished for 2023-2024 and we will just have to try and finish as high as possible afterwards. It seems like the bookies are sharing the same sentiment as the Board and the supporters as they have Queens as 11-10 favourites to win with us, the “away” side (we share the same stadium and pitch in case you've been fast asleep), best priced at 9-4. If you reckon the derby will end a draw though, well you can get 5-2 for that option.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 290 (135 away)

We have made a couple of changes for the derby, one of them enforced. The enforced change comes in central midfield as Owen Madine picked up a badly twisted ankle in that loss to Distillery and will be out for three weeks. We could have plied him with a cortisone injection if we wanted but he would be out for five weeks, basically the remainder of the season and risking further damage, so we went with the safe option and Louis Blackstock is given a recall to replace him. The other change is at right-back where Mark McCullagh replaces Craig Briers. McCullagh is our most creative player this season in terms of providing assists so I'm hoping he provides one or two more against Queens. No pressure like. Queens are unchanged from their last match, and have another prolific striker for us to deal with in shape of Zach Ferson who has 29 goals in 34 games this season.

The first encounter, played on Ne'er Day, ended in a 2-2 draw with us coming back from a 2-0 deficit and gain a point thanks to Sean Hill's late equaliser and even nearly win when the same player drove inches wide in time added-on. I'd settle for that again.

Queens opened the scoring after just nine minutes play. A slickly worked corner was passed around our rearguard and the ball was simply passed into the far corner by Students skipper Ben Mulgrew. Mulgrew almost added a second straight after the restart, his long range drive clipping the crossbar with Jonah Magill nowhere near it. Little had been seen of us but half time just four minutes away, we fashioned an unlikely equaliser. John-Joe MacDonald lofting the ball forward for top scorer Jonathan Doyle to bring the ball down with one touch and then volleying into the top corner with his next. A truly remarkable finish for the front man who now has 16 goals for the season, 12 of which have come in the league.

We thought we had gone in front in the 56th minute when McCullagh's ball forward was nodded back by Cain Stewart to skipper Johnny Wilson to send an unstoppable volley beyond Andrew Gawne. However, our celebrations were cut short indeed when a flag from the referee's assistant against Stewart for offside and videos post-game backed it up perfectly as the right call, not that I needed convincing as even I could see the offside was clear as daylight. 

That let off seemed to awaken Queens to re-assume control of the game and you just knew they'd bag the winner sometime in the game. It came with just 14 minutes left to play, substitute Mikey Withers with the left wing cross and Lorcan McIlory (no relation to Rory) headed home. We had no response so it's back to back losses as we go into that final month of the season with just pride and a decent finishing position as our targets.

Students captain Ben Mulgrew got the nod for the Man of the Match beers whilst Doyle was seen to be our best performer on a day we want to forget, and quickly too.

We will, Kinda knew the run would come to an end eventually….but hey ho!

2023-2024 Season: All good things come to an end - Chapter 53

We had two weeks between the Rathfriland game and our next match which was a crunch home match against Lisburn Distillery. It was a definitely one of those that you could call a six-pointer of sorts. We went into it on the back of a ten game unbeaten run in the league that has seen us rise from 11th when we lost 3-4 at home to Portstewart at The Dub and to the heady heights of 6th and with an outside change of getting into that promotion play-off berth which is currently held by our close rivals Queens University Belfast.

Would it be nice to gate-crash it all, eh?

Anyway that two weeks break allowed for achy bodies to rest and recuperate, and for the manager to have a few days away in Dubai: conveniently allowing him to switch off from all footballing business-related issues. I came back just in time to see the quarter-finals of the Irish FA Cup take place where Queens and Banbridge Town were still flying the flag for the Intermediate League, with the other six sides being Premiership sides such as heavyweights Linfield, Glentoran, Coleraine and Crusaders. With our next game away from home being the local derby against Queens, I was in attendance at The Dub to see them take on Portadown and they acquitted themselves pretty well too to come from 2-0 down to force extra time and subsequently penalties which the Ports won 5-4 on spot kicks. Elsewhere, Banbridge got humped 4-1 by Ballymena United, Coleraine beat Glentoran 3-0 and Crusaders beat Linfield again 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time.

We suffered no injuries in that two week break which meant that we had the luxury of playing an unchanged side for the game against Distillery. Despite the unbeaten run, the bookies once more saw us as outsiders to take the points on offer. Distillery were made 5-4 favourites to win the game and puncture our unbeaten run to an eventual end whilst you could get 15-8  for us to make it 11 league games unbeaten. A draw is available at the odds of 5-2 should you believe the two sides are going to shake hands on a share of the spoils.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance:184 (71 away)

The two sides are in their third meeting this season and each side has won one. Distillery won the first encounter 3-2 in Lisburn when after an early Jonathan Doyle, they hit three in four first half minutes to deflate us and lead 3-1 at the break. Andy Ferguson, aka penalty king, made it a one goal game but they held on for the win. Meeting number two was the semi-final of the Steel and Sons Cup at The Dub where Cian Stewart scored the only goal of the tie to send us to the Final, and we all know happened there don't we?  We make two changes for the game with Craig Briers and John-Joe MacDonald coming in for Mark McCullagh and San Morrow who drop to the bench. Distillery make a single change at left back where rumoured summer transfer target Ethan Warnock comes in for Bradley Lyttle. They are captained by the experienced Joe Tully who has bagged 40 goals this season in all competitions.

The visitors took the lead in the seventh minute when Shane Cooper headed Ellis Brown's cross against the bar but the rebound landed favourably for Jack Berry to poach in the rebound. It look us just seven minutes to equalise when MacDonald, making his full debut, laid the ball back to Zach Annett who cut across the edge of the box before curling a beautiful strike beyond Craig Robinson for his maiden PSNI goal and build on his excellent showing last time out against Rathfriland. Our cheers turned to hushed silence seconds later when Gerard Storey's low long range shot skipped off the wet surface in the incessant rain that was falling and into the bottom corner of Jonah Magill's net. 

They made it 1-3 in the 22nd minute when centre half Adam McCart curled in a free kick from outside the box in the opposite bottom corner with Magill given no chance whatsoever. But the lads showed their resolve to make it a one goal game again four minutes later when Owen Madine's left wing corner was met by a thumper of a header from Andrew Ferguson to make 2-3 with the veteran central defender bagging his 10th of the season. Madine limped off with what looked a bad ankle injury incurred by a Storey challenge as we tried to push for a leveller for 3-3 but the match was sealed and put to bed 11 minutes from the end when Berry's free kick was headed home by Cooper. 

So the incredible run ends today, and maybe our hopes of promotion. But we will go again, Queens best watch out as we're determined to upset their plans as well as get some bragging rights next Saturday.

Distillery's Ellis Brown took the Man of the Match beers back with him to Lisburn with Annett, firmly established as our first choice left back, being dubbed as our best performer on the day.

Incredible so far, you have really made a mark at the Coach and Horses Ground and are seemingly destined for the next tier up.

Would be oh so nice to tie it up with win after win. You got this mate!

2023-2024 Season: It's a perfect ten! - Chapter 52

March arrived with us still riding the proverbial crest of a winning wave. However, we are still guarding ourselves against the “C” word; complacency and know that we are there to be shot at. That's the problem when you are on a sequence like we are, you paint a target on your back for others to shoot you down and ruin all you have achieved so far.

To be unbeaten in the new calendar year is nothing short of amazong.

That first game in March sees us head down to Rathfriland for a third encounter with them this season. Our last meeting them was way back in October when we were still playing 4-3-3. The squad on duty that day is vastly different to what we have now, We have found that winning mentality and at the moment feel like nobody can stop us. Ten points and five places separate the sides with us still trying to achieve the improbable: that play-off position and a shot at promotion against the 11th placed side in the Championship. It would be amazing if we can achieve it, wouldn't it? Despite the contrasting form, they have lost their last four League and Cup games which ultimately cost Ally Wilson his job, the bookies have Rathfriland as 6-4 favourites to win this game. We're 13-8 to make it ten league games unbeaten with 5-2 the best you can get for a draw.

Iveagh Park, Rathfriland

Attendance: 85 (4 away)

In a remarkable coincidence, both sides were unchanged from their last games. For us, this meant we were playing with the same players for the fourth game in succession. However, we need to keep a very close eye on teenage striker Tomas Galvin. The 19 year old, on loan from Dungannon Swifts, has hit a creditable 13 goals this season in what has been a hit and miss campaign for the home. They are captained by Andy Kilmartin who is still turning out and playing in the centre of midfield at the age of 41. They have made full use of the loan market with six of their starting eleven, on loan from either the Championship or the Premiership. Compare that to us who have been able to acquire one single loan signing all season such is our financial state off-pitch. 

With the rain falling, we made a great start after just seven minutes with the opening goal of what proved to be a terrific game. A deep swinging cross from Zach Annett saw Alexandre Machado attack it with a thumping header past Ronan Burns for 0-1. It was the Portuguese winger's second goal for us to go with his two assists in just five games since his deadline day signing.  However the home side were in no mood to roll over and equalised midway when two of their loan signings combined; 17 year old Linfield loanee crossing for his fellow 17 year old Daniel Shiel (acquired from Glenavon) to head across Jonah Magill and in off the post. That gave Rathfriland fresh belief and they took the lead a minute before the half whistle when experienced left-back Ross Black curled home a sumptuous free kick from 30 yards out top bins, giving Magill no chance whatsoever. In fact, no keeper would have saved that one.

After a few choice words at the interval, just like Sir Alex Ferguson's hairdryer, the lads came out for the second half with purpose to keep that unbeaten run still going. Rathfriland must have thought they were going to experience our wrath and that we would be looking to exercise our playing muscle on them. They were given a warning shot just three minutes into that second half when skipper Johnny Wilson smacked a shot against the bar with Burns beaten all ends up. We made a double change in the 65th minute with Mark McCullagh and Sam Morrow coming off for Craig Briers and John-Joe MacDonald and within two minutes we had gone from 2-1 behind to 3-2 up. 

First of all, and moments after the substitution, we made it 2-2 with a stupendous strike of our own when Annett (playing his best ever game for us) picked out Owen Madine who unleashed an absolute howitzer past Burns from just outside the D. What a way to score your first goal for the Club, and safe to say he had been getting closer and closer before finally hitting the target. Then a couple of minutes later, we were in front when Machado's inswinging corner was half cleared to Jonathan Doyle who played a one-two with the impressive Annett before touching it into the path of MacDonald who swivelled and crashed home an incredible top bins finish into the far corner; Burns again with no chance of saving. We saw it home after that, and it's now ten league games without defeat. Incredible.

In a game that saw many outstanding performances from our boys, substitute John-Joe MacDonald took home his first ever Man of the Match beers home with him. Central defender Dean Corrigan, on loan from Ballinamallard United, was declared as Rathfriland's best performer.

We now have a fortnight off before our next game which is the first of two massive matches, one home and one away, against Distillery and Queens respectively. Win those and then we could really be in the mix for an unexpected promotion challenge. The incentive carrot is dangling…..

Season 2023-2024: Tobemore become the latest scalp as the unbeaten run goes on and on… - Chapter 51

Just eight games remain in our first season in charge of PSNI, and it's been a real rollercoaster of emotions for sure. We started off pretty well, suffered a down turn but since defeating Coagh United in mid-December and binning off 4-3-3 in favour of a conventional 4-4-2: we have been unstoppable to say the least. However with one automatic promotion spot and maybe another via a play-off: we are treating each game as if it is as important as the last one. Dare we start to dream even more?

Winning is a habit that you want to have, and we certainly have that at the moment.

We sign off February with a game on home turf against rock-bottom Tobemore United. This is actually our fourth game against them this season as we played them in pre-season as well as the earlier encounters at Fortwilliam Park in the Intermediate Cup and the reverse league one. We have won two of those three with the Intermediate Cup win being Tobemore's sole success. In a strange quirk, we are actually being seen as favourites to deepen Tobemore's relegation fears today. United are five points away from the safety line whilst we are unbeaten in eight league games but nine if you include the Cup Final. The bookies have priced us as being 5-6 to record another win with the visitors 11-4 to shatter our unbeaten run. It's 13-5 if you think that they will hold us to a draw.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 89 (5 away)

For the third game running, the team picked itself as we decided to keep faith with the same starting eleven and the same seven substitutes. This meant that Portuguese winger Alexandre Machado was again starring out wide on the right. Since arriving on window deadline day, the free transfer signing from Institute has a goal and an assist in his first two appearances for us and is already starting to prove an excellent piece of business for us. Tobemore make a couple of changes for this match with former Cliftonville midfielder Michael Tolan and Gareth McFadden come into the starting line up. They replace Shane Mulgrew and Eoin Gillan who drop to the substitute bench. Tobemore are captained by striker Gary Keane who is in his eighth season with them: the former Ballymoney United and Ringsend Swifts man has 14 goals this season with 11 in the league which is almost half of the basement dwellers total league goals tally.

They also have a new face for us to lock horns with in the dugout. Graeme McKenzie was dismissed two days before Christmas, another echo back to Derek Dooley and Sheffield Wednesday in 1973, and his permanent replacement is a fellow managerial rookie in Aaron Service. The former Moyola Park coach has signed a deal at Fortwilliam Park until the summer of 2025, and was appointed on New Year's Eve: ending an eight year sabbatical from the beautiful game.

We opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Machado fizzed in a low cross from the right and it was swept home by Cian Stewart for the loan signing's 10th goal of the season. Despite looking comfortable, we were still guarding ourselves against complacency and were given a bit of a warning when Daniel McIhatton drove an effort over the top but I'm sure that Jonah Magill tracked it all the way. A second goal a minute before the break gave us some breathing space. It came about when Machado picked out skipper Johnny Wilson and his goal bound shot rebounded to the feet of Stewart who doubled his tally for the afternoon with a simple finish.

Just after the hour, Owen Madine almost scored his first for the club with a long range free-kick that skimmed the top of the crossbar with Kieran Murphy frantically backpedalling in vain. Yet the five away fans thought they had something to cheer over in the 65th minute when McIlhatton played skipper Keane who showed a striker's finish to beat Magill; but a flag from the referee's assistant against him quickly quelled the away celebrations and keep the score at 2-0. In the closing stages, Madine again fired narrowly over, as we eased to victory without really playing at our best. This latest win takes us up to an astonishing sixth place!

Despite scoring both goals, Stewart was not given the Man of the Match beers as that honour went to Jonah Magill for his second league clean sheet of the season. Left winger Iain McCashin, just turned 17, was deemed to be Tobemore's best on the day.

That's some window, but you obviously thought the squad needed overhauling. Good on you for having the cojones to do that.

Here's hoping the new look Rose gel and you can start to create your own brand of history. Maybe you can cope being semi-pro for the bottom 2 divisions but whether the board will agree to go full time in the Championship is the biggest challenge.

Best of luck mate.