Pre-Match Guide | Ballinamallard United 13/08/22

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After 4 months of excitement and anticipation, we finally return to Lough 41 Championship action when we kick off the campaign at Dixon Park tomorrow afternoon against Ballinamallard United.

Match Info

When: Saturday 13th August – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (Concession)

Match Sponsor: Fleming & Cuthbert

Ball Sponsor: Arlene’s Hair & Beauty

The Opponents

The Mallards narrowly missed out on a promotion play-off last season when they finished third in the 21/22 Lough 41 Championship. Harry McConkey’s side will be looking to build on last season’s momentum with 3 points on the opening day.

The Comrades

The Comrades have seen 14 new faces arrive at Dixon Park over the summer. After 10 pre-season friendlies (6 against Premiership opponents) and 16 goals scored, all eyes will be on this Saturday’s opening fixture against Ballinamallard United. Having beaten the Mallards 5-1 in last season’s opening fixture, Stephen Small will be looking for a similar outcome with his new squad.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in January 2022 saw us share the spoils at Dixon Park in a game which saw the lead change twice. After a number of half chances at either end it fell to the home side to move in front on 37 minutes when Jason Johnston headed home after Kyle Beggs had delivered the ball into the box. It was an advantage the Comrades held until a couple of minutes into the second half when Callum Moorehead nodded past Richard Purcell to level matters. Then, on 64 minutes, Sean McEvoy edged the visitors into the lead with a well executed free-kick from around 30 yards low into the bottom corner. However, it again proved to be a short lived period on top after Andrew Mooney equalised for the Comrades with a left-foot strike from just inside the box after Caiolan Brennan had slipped him through on the left.

Daisy & Gracie Off To Euros

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We are thrilled to announce that Daisy & Gracie Conway, of our Ladies First Team, have been selected as Visa Ball Kids at the upcoming N.Ireland v England #WEURO2022 match on Friday at the St. Marys Stadium in Southampton!!
The girls were nominated by our club through our partnership with the sported and Sported NI network, through their partnership with Barclays Football and the girls have been selected to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a Visa Ball Kid at #WEURO2022.
36 girls have been chosen from across the UK as Ball Kids, all chosen from groups in the Sported network – Daisy & Gracie are the sole representatives from N.Ireland.
Better still, their mum Julie & younger sister Lily will be accompanying them!
They fly out on Friday morning and are all treated like superstars during their stay with accommodation, new kits, cultural tour, transportation, matchday experience, free tickets for Julie & Lily, Visa Hub experience all included before flying home on Saturday.
Special shout-out to the Conway family for keeping this quiet, we have known for a few weeks but we have been sworn to secrecy for publicity reasons….and now we can shout it from the rooftops!!
We hope they all have an unforgettable time!!
Keep an eye out during the match to see them in action!

Ballyclare Comrades Season Tickets 2022-23

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Ballyclare Comrades FC is delighted to announce details of season tickets for the upcoming Lough 41 Championship campaign.

Season tickets will entitle the holder to admittance to all the Comrades’ Lough 41 Championship home games in the 2022-23 season, and are priced as follows:

Adult – £110
Concession (Pensioner, Child & Student) – £55

Adult Season Tickets ONLY can be purchased from our online store here.
Both Adult & Concession Season Tickets can be purchased from the Dixon Park shop on matchdays.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your incredible support. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Dixon Park once again.

SuperCup NI & Ballyclare Comrades 2022

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It has been described as the best Youth Football Tournament in Europe and this year, SuperCupNI is extending its footprint to introduce a Girls’ Tournament in July. Sponsored by Fibrus Broadband, the Girls’ Tournament will be played in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area. Ballyclare Comrades will compete in the U13 section with games played on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th July. The U16 section includes teams from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, the US and Canada with games played on Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th July. Ballyclare Comrades are delighted to host the U16 Final at Dixon Park on Friday 29th July with a 2:00 pm kick off. Comrades fans will also have an interest in the boys’ section with Bobby Higgins and Rhys McGarry having been selected for the Co. Antrim FA squad.
Pictured below are Comrades officials and players at the launch with Stephen Ross, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

End of Season Award Winners

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Ballyclare Comrades FC would like to thank Ballyclare Golf Club for hosting what was a fantastic evening for our 21/22 End of Season Awards.

Award Winners:

Player of the Year – Ian Fletcher
Players Player of the Year – Liam Hassin
Top Goalscorer – Andy Mooney
Clubman of the Year – Michael Higgins
U20 Player of the Year – Ethan McCormick
U20 Players Player of the Year – Ethan McCormick
U20 Top Goalscorer – Oliver McGrath
Most Improved Young Player – Cameron Moore and Ben Andrews
Supporters Club Player of the Year – Ian Fletcher

Pre-Match Guide | Dundela 30/04/22

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We welcome Dundela to Dixon Park tomorrow afternoon in what will be the final fixture of the 21/22 Lough 41 Championship season.

Match Info

When: Saturday 30th April – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (Concession)

Match Sponsor: Agnew Recovery Services Ltd

Ball Sponsor: Antrim Newtownabbey Disability FC

The Opponents

Dundela go into tomorrow’s game top of Section B of the Lough 41 Championship – which is a great achievement considering their results at the beginning of the season. Last week, Dundela swept to a comfortable victory over Institute at Wilgar Park. Eoin Kane opened the scoring with around a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock with a close range finish after Rhys Annett’s initial effort was saved. Kyle Owens added a second after half-an-hour when he rose highest to nod home a Tony Kane corner from the right, before Annett made it 3-0 early in the second half with a shot on the turn beyond John Connolly. ‘Stute pulled one back soon after through Jamie Dunne but Eoin Kane restored Dundela’s three-goal advantage later in the game with his second of the afternoon from just outside the area.

The Comrades

The Comrades secured Championship football for next season after a 2-2 draw with Queen’s University at The Dub. The Students moved in front after 18 minutes through Adam Calvert but Liam Hassin levelled for the Comrades ten minutes after that. But Queen’s regained the advantage after half-an-hour after Leon Bonnes turned home a corner, a lead they held until eight minutes into the second half when Hassin equalised again for the visitors.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met, just last month, Dundela swept to a comfortable three-goal defeat of Ballyclare Comrades at Wilgar Park. Eamonn Fyfe opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute after getting on the end of a ball over the top and beating keeper Richard Purcell one-on-one. Then, after a quarter-of-an-hour, David Fearon made it 2-0 with a tap in after Ryan McKay had done well down the left before delivering the ball into the box. That was how it stayed until the final few minutes when Rhys Annett added a third after he skipped past a couple of defenders, took it past Purcell and slotted into the empty net.