Lurgan Town Arena, 83 Glenavon Lane, Lurgan, Co Armagh, BT66 8TN
BARCELONA CUP A GREAT SUCCESS
“This is one trip they will remember for years”. Just one of the many positive comments from the
trip to the Barcelona Cup at the beginning of the month. Judging by the smiles in the photos this
statement couldn't be any more true. 4 teams from the club (two U10 and two U12) along with
coaches, parents and supporters descended on Salou for the long weekend. On the trip the boys
met teams from Sweden, Japan, Belgium, Spain, Scotland and
England. The U10s finished in 3rd and 4th place following a
play off between each other and the U12s finished in 11th
and 16th place. Young
Jesse Turner (pictured
below) finished leading
goal scorer in the U10
competition with 15 goals.
Bobby Harvey also from
the U10s also hit an
impressive 7 goals. Catch
up with the photos and the
memories made on page 4.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE --> Robert Davidson Interview
--> Barcelona Cup
--> Results from April
--> Your Tweets
--> Free Health Checks
--> Soccability Set To Return
--> Ladies Off To A Winning Start
--> Predators... Champions
--> Meeting The Ladies
--> Race for Golden Glove
--> Race for Golden Boot
--> Mid Ulster Schools Honours
SOCCABILITY SET TO RETURN
Got a news story? Email us to
Soccability will commence on Monday
9th May at Lurgan Town Arena 3G pitch
with a 7pm start and 8pm finish. The
usual cost of £2. There will be 9 weekly
sessions finishing on 4th July.
QUESTION TMIE WITH COLETTE YOUNG
Let’s meet the ladies that will lead the charge in Division 2 South this year. Next up is Colette Young who was nominated by skipper Tracy Orr. WIE: How do you spend your day? CY: My paid job is Business Analyst in and IT company, but I spend a lot of time doing my voluntary NIWFA Secretary duties WIE: What position do you play? CY: Usually bench-warmer, but right-wing, back in the day. WIE: Favourite team and footballer? CY: Arsenal and Thierry Henry
WIE: Any pets? CY: Not since Nibbles the hamster died, but I dog-sit Toby for my sister WIE: What was the last gift you gave someone? CY: A Provisional Driving Licence for my 17-year-old son WIE: What super hero would you be and why? CY: The Flash, so that I could be as quick as Debbie again! WIE: Who would play you in a movie of your life? CY: Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls) - people said we look alike WIE: What is your pre-match routine? CY: Lately, it's been to get wrapped up well for the bench ;-)
WIE: Most sensible? CY: Me, when I act my age. WIE: Hardest trainer? Me again, trying to prove I can keep up
with the young uns! Or else Jess, training twice. WIE: Biggest moaner? CY: Used to be Lauren G, but she has
grown up and matured :-)
WIE: Toughest? CY: Fi - when she broke her nose going up for a
header, the blood was everywhere, but she was soon back
playing
WIE: Most skilful? CY: KT - love it when she skins the pitch. WIE:
Messiest? CY: Dunno - but I think Ciara is probably the tidiest!?
WIE: Biggest joker? CY: Dede is always winding people up, but
with such a straight face I fall for it every time.
WIE: Longest getting ready before and after the game? CY:
Tracy, fixing her hair and going to the toilet (not at the same
time ;-))
WIE: Most laid back? CY: Harps n Rachel are always smiling and
relaxed, but Lauren W is practically horizontal!
WIE: Most ditzy? CY: definitely Looper
BARCELONA CUP
MID ULSTER SCHOOLS HONOURS
Congratulations to the boys selected to represent the Mid Ulster Primary School’s team and Mid Ulster Secondary
School’s team. We had 3 boys in the Primary School U10 squad: Jesse Turner, Daniel Dillon and Bobby Harvey. Mid Ulster
Schools U12 squad lifted the District Tournament with some fine performances at The Showgrounds in Ballymena. The
Lurgan Town boys who represented the club were: Reece Herron, Ross Hawthorne, John Patience, Nathan Bell and Jack
Harvey.
Who’s out there? Tweet us
@lurgantownfc
@boringhollis
Absolutely LOVE seeing
the proper PPE being worn
when fixing aerials! Nothing
gets the juices flowin like a
harness!
@HarbinsonTrudi
Great start to the season
tonight with the red girls.
Already buzzing for the next
game #ontothenext
@sbeats1984
Buzzin for the top 2 clash
tomorrow
@therealDicko
A premier league match...
Home to Arsenal and empty
seats everywhere
#Embarrassing
@therainmak3r
I wish @SkyUK would stop
spoiling us with all of this
top quality entertainment
@mickyhogg
Just finished week 4 day 1 of
#C25K with @c25kfree!
@zenlabsfitness!
#everymomentcounts #run
#running #health #fitness
@chin1986
Jamie Vardy’s first touch
@kcuz11
First game back after a
month or so! Got a goal!
Bad to draw the match in
the last minute
@stoker_13_
@Steve_Greenaway well
worth the long trip
@Wingr_4
I’ve been a Rangers fan all
my life, supported them
through thick and thin, and
never have I been as proud.
You’re the only team for me
@JimmySipples
@Cex just a general enquiry
... Do you at all train your
staff before unleashing
them on the public?
MID ULSTER PREDATORS ARE THE CHAMPIONS
OFF TO A WINNING START
The brand new ladies side kicked off their league campaign with a 3-0 over Banbridge
Town Ladies. Danielle Creaney and an own goal where enough to see the ladies take
home all 3 points. Next up they entertain Killyleagh Ladies at the Area on May 4th.
As always your support is most welcome for the girls.
Congratulations to our MU 11 Predators on winning the MUYL Plate by defeating
Banbridge Town 4-0.
ALL OF THE STATS FOR THE MONTH
Saturday 30th April 1st Team 1-4 Seagoe (Jack McNally) 2nd Team 8-0 Dungannon Rovers Res (Matt Irvine x4, Andrew Houston, James McNally, OG x2) U16 MU 4-1 Windmill Stars (Aaron Winters, Mark Boyd, Jonny Russell, John Dickson) U15 LL 0-5 Portadown Youth U14 MU 2-5 Lisnaskea Rovers (Conor Lavery, Kyle Truesdale) Friday 29th April U15 MU 1-1 Tandragee Rovers (Niall McBride) Wednesday 27th April 2nd Team 5-0 Ambassadors Res (Andrew Houston x3, Matt Irvine x2) Tuesday 26th April U16 NL 0-2 Maiden City Academy Saturday 23rd April 1st Team 2-0 Dungannon Rovers (Adam Wing, Jack McNally) U15 LL 3-2 Glenavon Acdemy (Cain McConville, Arai Da Silva, Jamie McNeill) U15 MU 2-2 Tandragee Rovers (Niall McBride x2) Friday 22nd April U14 MU 2-11 Rathfriland Youth (Rileigh Jamison x2) Wednesday 20th April Ladies 3-0 Banbridge Town Ladies (Danielle Creaney x2, OG Tuesday 19th April 1st Team 1-0 Broomhedge (David Clarke) Saturday 16th April 1st Team 3-3 Markethill Swifts (Simon Freeburn x2, David Clarke) 2nd Team P-P Ballyoran Res (Matt Irvine x2, Stephen Heasley) U16 NL 0-2 Limavady Youth U16 MU P-P Draperstown Celtic U15 LL 0-6 Hillsborough Boys U15 MU 3-3 Banbridge Town (Niall McBride x3) U14 MU 1-6 Midway Utd (Matthew Clarke) U13 MU 2-1 Dungannon Youth (Ethan Sands x2) Friday 15th April U13 NL 0-3 Portadown Youth Tuesday 12th April 1st Team 1-2 Moneyslane (Kyle Cousins) U16 NL 2-8 Crusaders (Jack Owens, Ross Hull) Monday 11th April U15 LL 0-3 Shankill Juniors Saturday 9th April 1st Team 2-2 Craigavon City (Kyle Cousins, David Hamilton) 2nd Team 3-4 Derryhirk Utd Res (Matt Irvine x2, Andrew Houston) U16 NL 2-2 (AET) (4-3 Pens) Portadown Youth (John Lee McAfee, Jack Owens) U16 MU 1-4 Armagh City (Nathan Stewart) U15 MU P-P Tandragee Rovers U14 MU 1-4 Annagh Utd (Conor Lavery) U13 NL 3-0 Strabane Athletic (Nathan Bell, Daniel Greer, OG Saturday 2nd April 1st Team 0-2 Dungannon Tigers 2nd Team 0-3 Hanover Res U16 MU 1-3 (AET) Draperstown Celtic (Lewis McKinley) U15 MU 2-1 Banbridge Rangers (Niall McBride x2) U15 LL 2-1 Lisburn Distillery (Ryan Blacoe, Simon Wilson) Friday 1st April U13 MU 1-6 Armagh City (David McNally)
THE RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT
Totals for games played up to and including:
Saturday 30th April 2016
35 Goals
Matt Irvine – Senior Teams
25 Goals
Niall McBride – Under 15 MU
18 Goals
Kyle Cousins – Senior Teams
Andrew Houston – Senior Teams
17 Goals
Nathan Stewart – Under 16 MU
15 Goals
Jack Hogg – Under 15 LL
11 Goals
Simon Freeburn – Senior Teams
Philip Bingham – Under 19
Aaron Winters – Under 16 MU
10 Goals
Nathan Crozier – Senior Teams
Matthew Hagan – Under 19
Conor Lavery – Under 14 MU
Callum Gordon – Under 13 MU
David McNally – Under 13 MU
9 Goals
Jack McNally – Senior Teams
THE RACE FOR THE GOLDEN GLOVE
Totals for games played up to and including:
Saturday 30th April 2016
5 Clean Sheets
Tyler Boyce – Under 16 NL
4 Clean Sheets
Lee Dickson – Senior 1st Team
Ciaran McGeown – Under 19 MU
3 Clean Sheets
Robbie Redpath – Senior 2nd Team
Scott McBride – Senior 2nd Team
Adam Craig – Under 16 MU
Aaron Hancock – Under 15 LL
Rhys Lawlor – Under 13 MU
Konrad Subzcak – Under 13 MU
2 Clean Sheets
Tyler Boyce – Senior 1st Team
Dylan Watters – Under 15 MU
Reece Herron – Under 13 NL
1 Clean Sheet
Matthew Clarke – Senior 1st Team
Riley Jamison – Under 14 MU
ROBRT DAVIDSON INTERVIEW
Winning Isn’t Everything: Robert, it seems like you have been at the club for a lifetime. How long has it actually been? Robert Davidson: I’ve been with the club 10 years. I came in 2006.
WIE: Over the years, what coaches have you worked alongside? RD: Throughout the years I have worked with so many coaches: Gary Duke, Gareth Maxwell, John Parks, Russell Collie and Phil McKinley in the early days. But now, as the outgoing Academy Director, my list is huge. I really would like to thank them all. Volunteers are the life blood of youth football.
WIE: Tell us about your U16 team. RD: I'm currently with the Under 16s National League side. We play in the Section A league which is an outstanding achievement competing with the big boys every week and shows it can be done. Phil McKinley and myself have taken this age group from Under 7s and have had many great times and had a close working relationship within the 2 groups (National League and Mid Ulster sides). I also work with the new intakes at the Academy U7s every Friday night with young Pete Maglioco who's growing as a coach which is great to see. This foundation year is so important as its is most children's first football experience. Hopefully I help give them a good experience and light a flame that will fire for many years with football.
WIE: So, you are set to leave at the end of the season. Where are you off to? RD: The new post at the IFA is Youth Coordinator role. There will be 8 of us in the Country. It's a big opportunity and a real challenge. We will work with Irish League and Championship clubs to help implement their youth strategy from grassroots up. After 25 years of voluntary service I feel I have the experience for this role and I am up for the challenge, although I will miss so many at Lurgan Town and the end of the season will be a emotional time.
WIE: Have you any special memories from your time with us? RD: So many special memories but to see the growth and development of the Academy from 30/35 kids in the first night to over 150 now is outstanding. To see the club’s development off the field is fantastic so great credit to the committee and especially Nigel (Johnston) and Phil (McKinley) for the work they put in behind the scenes. But on field to see the Club compete at all levels and move into the National League to compete with the “big clubs” in the Country shows the intent to always evolve and improve as a Club. Helping coach the Under 11s to the NI Cup win last season was a great achievement for the boys and coaches Grahame Leatham and Jim Maguire. Another highlight after arriving back from Spain has to be that trip. To stand and watch a side (our U10s) compete with Barcelona and take them to penalties was outstanding and without doubt anyone there would have been proud of our town, club and country. This can also be said for the U10 Vapours team who also got to the Semis and the two U12 sides who also represented us fantastically. All this said, though, I feel our biggest achievement has been in the local community were we have such a mix within the club from all sections of the divide. I have always said football is a great vehicle to move communities forward were the passion for football is the common unifier.
WIE: The 2015/16 will be the last for you (for now anyway) with us. Any last thoughts as you move into the last games of the season? RD: There is so much more I could say. I have to thank so many people including Adam Beattie and John Annett who help me with the U16s. Without doubt my greatest accolade goes to two people; Phil McKinley for his help and friendship and my wife Gail who supports my constant running and backs me all the way and without Gail I would lost in many ways. Finally I have to mention my Faith in God as I know he has blessed me in many ways and I hope in my lifestyle it shows most of the time although I'm far from perfect. All I want is to leave a good Legacy at Lurgan Town. When I came in 10 years ago from Portadown I really only knew 2 people… Maxie and John Parks but now I have so many friends and not to mention the kids who I will miss greatly but I'm sure I will keep in touch and still drop in especially for Brian and Badgers soup on cold Saturday morning.