Glentoran F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Glentoran


fullname = Glentoran Football Club
nickname = "The Glens" or "The Cock 'N Hens"
founded = 1882
ground = The Oval, Belfast
capacity = 15250 (5000 seats)
chairman = Aubry Ralph
manager = Alan McDonald
league = IFA Premiership
season = 2007/08
position = 2nd
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_green_&_redhorizontal|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FFFFFF
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_collarblack|pattern_ra2=|pattern_so2=_band_black
leftarm2=32AD42|body2=32AD42|rightarm2=32AD42|shorts2=000000|socks2=32AD42

Glentoran F.C. is a Northern Irish football club, playing in East Belfast. The club, founded in 1882, plays in the Irish Premier League and plays its home matches at The Oval. Club colours are green, red, and black.

Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield F.C. Linfield and Glentoran are nicknamed Belfast's "Big Two", as they have traditionally dominated local football in Northern Ireland since the demise of Belfast Celtic. The two play a league match on Boxing Day each year [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6206947.stm BBC News] ] , which regularly attracts the largest attendance of the Irish League season. The 2007 Boxing Day fixture saw Glentoran overcome Linfield 1-0 at The Oval.

Many former Glentoran players have gone on to play for teams in England and Scotland, such as Danny Blanchflower, Peter Doherty, Bertie Peacock, Billy Bingham, Jimmy McIlroy, Terry Conroy, Tommy Jackson and Tommy Cassidy. More recent examples are Glen Little, Stuart Elliott, Andy Kirk and Andy Smith, with Elliott a member of the Northern Ireland squad.

History

In 1914 Glentoran won the Vienna Cup, becoming the first Irish team to win a European trophy, although as this competition took place several decades before the formation of UEFA it is not recognised as such. [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/article2249104.ece "Belfast Telegraph"] ]

George Best watched Glentoran with his grandfather as a youth, but was rejected by the club for being "too small and light". However Best did make one appearance for Glentoran, in the club's centenary match against Manchester United. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/4790307.stm BBC News] ]

In 1964-65, Glentoran faced Panathinaikos in the European Cup and drew 2-2 at home and lost 3-2 away. In the following season's Fairs Cup, they faced Antwerp resulting a 1-0 defeat away and 3-3 draw at home. The Cup-Winners' Cup in 1966-67 saw Glentoran draw 1-1 with Rangers in front of a packed Oval before losing the away leg 4-0.Glentoran's finest hour came in a European Cup encounter with Benfica in 1967. The tie was played over two legs, the first being at the Oval. Glentoran scored a penalty early on and held out for nearly 60 minutes until football great Eusébio equalised. The match ended 1-1. The return tie was at Benfica's famous Estádio da Luz. Part-time Glentoran were expected to crumble under the pressure of the occasion, but again held out for a famous draw. Benfica advanced to the next round on the away goals rule. Glentoran were the first team ever to lose out to this rule. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=1967/round=951/index.html UEFA] ]

In the late 1960s the club ran the Detroit Cougars football franchise in the North American Soccer League. [ [http://www.glentoran-fc.co.uk/cougars.htm Glentoran FC] ]

In 1973-74, Glentoran reached the quarter-finals of the Cup-Winners' Cup. They faced Borussia Mönchengladbach in the quarter-finals and were beaten 2-0 and 5-0. Four seasons later they faced Juventus in a European Cup match and lost 1-0 at home (Warren Feeney missing a late penalty) and 5-0 away.

In 1981-82, Glentoran reached the second round of the European Cup and faced eventual semi-finalists CSKA Sofia. After a 2-0 defeat away, Glentoran went 2-0 up in the return leg to force the game into extra time. The final result was 2-1, Glentoran going out 3-2 on aggregate.

On the 23 April, 2005 Glentoran defeated their rivals Linfield in the second last game but one of the league season. In the 93rd minute of the match Glentoran, who needed victory in order to have a chance of clinching the league title, scored a goal via their centre forward (and former Linfield player) Chris Morgan. The goal sealed the victory for Glentoran. There were confrontations between the two sets of fans following the match. Hooliganism was commonplace at matches between the clubs in the past. However this has reduced significantly in recent years. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4477177.stm BBC News] ]

After eight years in charge of Glentoran, Roy Coyle resigned as manager after a string of indifferent results. On 14 February, 2006 the club announced that former Newry City manager Paul Millar was to take over the manager's position. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4712836.stm BBC News] ] Since his takeover performances improved and he led his team into the Irish Cup final with rivals Linfield. Despite taking the lead in the first half, Linfield won the game with 2 goals from Peter Thompson. He also lead his new club to their biggest ever defeat against their bitter cross-city rivals Linfield in a 6-0 defeat at Windsor Park. The Glens have sought to reduce the gap between them and Linfield by signing Kyle Neill and Gary Hamilton from Portadown and re-signing former fan's favourite Gary Smyth. Also arriving was another former player, Jason Hill, former Portadown and Newry City player Cullen Feeney and promising young keeper Ciaran McLaughlin from Ards.

Paul Millar was sacked as manager on May 17th 2007 after less than 15 months in the job, after two successive seasons finishing second in the League behind Linfield. He had the backing of chairman Stafford Reynolds, but the majority of the board (and fans) wanted his departure. Fans were disappointed with the style of football displayed by the team in the later months of his reign. Poor displays in the second half of the 2006/2007 season would see Glentoran drop a 5-point lead at the top of the Carnegie Irish Premier League, finishing with an 8-point deficit behind rivals Linfield.

On May 24th 2007 former Crusaders and Glenavon manager Roy Walker was appointed as Glentoran manager along with assistant manager Billy Sinclair. Walker previously led Crusaders to two league titles in 1995 and 1997. After leaving football management for 7 years Walker became a football analyst with BBC Radio Ulster. He was quoted in saying "Glentoran were my boyhood team and are probably the only club which could have attracted me back." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6685525.stm BBC News: Walker takes over as Glens boss] ]

However, on May 26th 2007 it was revealed that Walker may not be able to take up the post, due to not possessing the necessary UEFA coaching qualifications. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6695123.stm BBC News: Walker unable to take Glens job] ]

Less than one week later Glentoran appointed head coach Alan McDonald as manager. Roy Walker was offered a place on the board but stated in the "Belfast Telegraph" that he would not accept the offer until director of football Tom Dick stood down. Mr Dick then did so, but also criticised the club chairman Stafford Reynolds. Reynolds replied with a statement confirming that he would step down, but only if the right man could be found to take over. Alan McDonald, the new manager, has so far secured former Glentoran player Rory Hamill, Daryl Fordyce from Portsmouth, winger Jamie McGovern from West Bromwich Albion and Dungannon Swifts winger David Scullion and has given Chris Morgan and Tim McCann new contracts. Darren Lockhart left the club at the same time to join Crusaders on a one year load deal along with defender Gary Smith. In January Glentoran managed to bring in Shane Mcabe from Dungannon and Darren Boyce from Coleraine [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/article2670537.ece "Belfast Telegraph"] ]

Redevelopment

In March 2003, the club's board of directors advised the shareholders of Glentoran Recreation Company Ltd to sell the Oval to a property development holding company called Girona. To date no new ground has materialised. A campaign waged by a group of volunteer supporters called Rest In East, was then set up to keep the club in east Belfast. The club's Board of directors have suggested moving close to a town called Comber, well outside the city bounds of Belfast, which the majority of supporters firmly oppose.

On November 3, 2005 a fans forum voted 417-0 in favour of forming Glentoran Community Trust, the first supporters' trust to be formed in Northern Ireland. It was officially formed on 15 May, 2006 and registered with the Registry of Companies Belfast under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 -1978. The trust sits completely independent of the parent club, giving the ordinary non-shareholding supporter a voice. [ [http://www.irishfa.com/the-ifa/news/2215/ifa-head-of-community-relations-michael-boyd-welcomes-the-launch-of-glentoran-community-trust/ IFA] ] On the 29th January 2008, the GCT took another historic step in giving the fans a voice, when one of its members, Stephen Henderson was elected to the board of directors by the shareholders of Glentoran FC.

Trivia

*In 1995 Glentoran played their traditional Boxing Day match against Linfield on a snow-covered pitch. In the first half the orange ball was damaged, and not having a replacement the teams were forced to play with a white ball for the remainder of the game. The incident was used as a "What Happened Next" question on the BBC's "A Question of Sport". [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48a6MDmCBM youtube video] ]
*The 1985 Irish Cup final between the big two saw another famous incident. Glentoran supporters brought a cockerel, the club's emblem, to the match. Glentoran supporters also brought a pig, painted in the blue of rivals Linfield. The two animals stayed on the sidelines for the duration of the match. Glentoran fans also brought a cockerel to the 2006 Irish Cup final, it too stayed on the sidelines for the duration, Glentoran eventually won the game 2-1 to maintain their unbeaten post-war record against Linfield in Irish Cup finals. This run of 5 victories over Linfield in post-war finals which started in 1966 continued until Glentoran's defeat in the 2006 final. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1606907,00.html "Observer"] ]
*In Roy Coyle's first cup final in charge he gave up the right to lead the team out, instead he asked long serving Kitman Teddy Horner have this honour.

Honours

Senior honours

*Irish League: 22
**1893/94, 1896/97, 1904/05, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1920/21, 1924/25, 1930/31, 1950/51, 1952/53, 1963/64, 1966/67, 1967/68, 1969/70, 1971/72, 1976/77, 1980/81, 1987/88, 1991/92, 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05
*Irish Cup: 20
**1913/14, 1916/17, 1920/21, 1931/32, 1932/33, 1934/35, 1950/51, 1965/66, 1972/73, 1982/83, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1989/90, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2003/04
*Irish League Cup: 6
**1988/89, 1990/91, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2006/07
*City Cup: 18
**1896/97, 1898/99, 1910/11, 1911/12, 1913/14, 1914/15, 1915/16, 1916/17, 1918/19, 1931/32, 1950/51, 1952/53, 1956/57, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1969/70, 1972/73, 1974/75
*Gold Cup: 15
**1916/17, 1941/42, 1950/51, 1959/60, 1961/62, 1965/66, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1982/83, 1986/87, 1991/92, 1994/95, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01
*Ulster Cup: 9
**1950/51, 1952/53, 1966/67, 1976/77, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1988/89, 1989/90
*Floodlit Cup: 2
**1987/88, 1989/90
*County Antrim Shield: 25
**1900/01, 1901/02, 1910/11, 1915/16, 1917/18, 1924/25, 1930/31, 1939/40, 1940/41, 1943/44, 1949/50, 1950/51, 1951/52, 1956/57, 1967/68, 1970/71, 1977/78, 1984/85, 1986/87, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2007/08
*Vienna Cup: 1
**1913/14
*Inter-city Cup: 1
**1943/44
*Blaxnit Cup: 1
**1972/73

Intermediate honours

*Irish League B Division/B Division Section 2/Reserve League: 9
**1958/59†, 1985/86†, 1986/87†, 1989/90†, 1992/93†, 1995/96†, 1997/98†, 2001/02†, 2002/03†
*Irish Intermediate Cup: 9
**1894/95†, 1898/99†, 1909/10†, 1913/14†, 1916/17†, 1918/19†, 1931/32†, 1941/42†, 1962/63†
*Steel & Sons Cup: 9
**1904/05†, 1908/09†, 1910/11†, 1914/15†, 1918/19†, 1932/33†, 1937/38†, 1957/58†, 1965/66†, 1966/67†, 1989/90†, 2000/01†, 2001/02†

† Won by Glentoran II (reserve team

Junior honours

*Irish Junior Cup: 1
**1889/90†

† Won by Glentoran II (reserve team

Current squad

Notable former players

*Billy Bingham
*Danny Blanchflower
*Gary Blackledge
*Barney Bowers
*Tommy Briggs
*Tommy Breen
*Walter Bruce
*Billy Caskey
*Jim Cleary
*Liam Coyle
*Peter Doherty
*Alex Elder
*Stuart Elliott
*Johnny Jameson
*Andy Kennedy
* Andy Kirk
*Glen Little
*Jimmy McAlinden
*Gary McCartney
*Jimmy McIlroy
*Con Martin
*Terry Moore
*Gerry Mullan
*Fred Roberts
*Alex Young
*Chris Walker

References

External links

* [http://www.glentoran.com/ Official Glentoran FC Website]
* [http://www.gctni.com/ Glentoran Community Trust - the first ever Supporters Trust in Northern Ireland]
* [http://www.restineast.co.uk/ Rest in East - Fans' Campaign to keep the club in East Belfast]
* [http://www.forzatv.net/ Forza TV - Glentoran Match Highlights & Interviews]
* [http://www.ballymacgsc.com/ BallymacGSC.com - Popular Supporters Club Website & Away Bus Information]
* [http://home.online.no/~smogols/ifcp/UntitledFrameset-15.htm Irish Football Club Project]
* [http://www.nifootball.co.uk/ nifootball.co.uk (fixtures, results and tables of all leagues in Northern Ireland)]