Portadown F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Portadown
fullname = Portadown Football Club


nickname = The "Ports"
founded = 1880s (exact date unknown)
ground = Shamrock Park
ground capacity = 15,000
chairman = Roy McMahon
manager = Ronnie McFall
league = IFA Championship
season = 2007/2008
position = 5th, Irish Premier League
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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
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football kit box
pattern_la =
pattern_b = _whiteshoulders
pattern_ra =
leftarm = 000080
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title = Third kit

Portadown is a Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Championship. The club, founded in the 1880s, hails from Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park. Club colours are red and white. Their current manager is Ronnie McFall, who has been with the club as manager for over 20 years now, having joined on Thursday December 11, 1986.

Portadown's first major trophy success came in the 1989/1990 season when they were crowned Irish League champions for the first time in their history, having come close on numerous occasions in the past. The 'Ports' then went on to have what many would regard as the club's golden age, winning the league title a further two times within five years, including a 'double', when the Irish Cup arrived at Shamrock Park along with the league championship in 1991.

On 30th April 2008, Portadown was relegated to the Championship as as a result of its final application form for the new IFA Premiership (due to replace the Irish Premier League for 2008-09) having been received late and thus not considered. The club unsuccessfully appealed its exclusion. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/7398872.stm BBC SPORT | Football | Irish | Portadown out of Premier League ] ]

Future ground developments

Plans are in place to improve the state of Portadown's ground in a bid to attract more people to Irish League matches. This is part of a wider drive to push for a more professional set-up in Northern Irish football, along the lines of that which recently took place in Australia.

Once funding is granted, both the 'Shed' and the old Grandstand will be knocked down to make way for two new, all-seater stands. The pitch will be moved towards the new away stand while new floodlighting will also be installed.

Honours

enior honours

*Irish League: 4
**1989/90, 1990/91, 1995/96, 2001/02
*Irish Cup: 3
**1990/91, 1998/99, 2004/05
*Irish Football League Cup: 1
**1995/96
*Gold Cup: 6
**1933/34, 1937/38, 1952/53, 1971/72, 1978/79, 1992/93
*Ulster Cup: 2
**1990/91, 1995/96
*Floodlit Cup: 3
**1990/91, 1992/93, 1994/95
*Texaco (All-Ireland) Cup: 1
**1973/74
*Tyler Cup: 1
**1977/78
*Mid-Ulster Cup: 17
**1898/99, 1899/00, 1902/03, 1905/06, 1907/08, 1909/10, 1931/32, 1933/34, 1980/81, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03

Intermediate honours

*Mid-Ulster Cup: 4
**1960/61†, 1962/63†, 1964/65†, 1969/70†
*Bob Radcliffe Cup: 2
**1982/83†, 1983/84†

† Won by Portadown Reserves

Junior honours

*Irish Junior Cup: 1
**1898/99

Notable former players

*Vinny Arkins
*Dave Clements
*Stevie Cowan
*Sandy Fraser
*Gary Hamilton
*Ryan Harpur
*Garry Haylock
*Mickey Keenan
*Philip Major
*John McClelland
*Pat McGibbon
*Kevin Pressman
*Allan Smart
*Brian Strain

Current squad

References

External links

* [http://www.portadownfc.co.uk Portadown FC Website]