Glentoran Football Club has over the years developed a longstanding relationship with Burnley Football Club with players enjoying careers at both clubs, most recently Glen Little, someone who wrote his name into the history books of this club by scoring the winning goal in the 1996 Irish Cup Final. The relationship between the clubs has strengthened in recent years through the work of Burnley FC in the Community and our own Glentoran in the Community as they have shared ideas on reaching out into the local community. This has culminated in an event planned for Saturday 21 May 2022 at The Bet McLean Oval.
On that day, Glentoran will welcome two staff members from Burnley FC in the Community, who will have cycled from Turf Moor via Holyhead, Dublin and up to Belfast to raise funds for Alzheimer's UK. Glentoran and Burnley legend Jimmy McIlroy lived with dementia in his later life before his passing in 2018. Jimmy started his career with Glentoran Football Club and our club will be the destination for the cycle, where the two Burnley officials will be welcomed upon arrival at The Bet McLean Oval.
The cycle will be a fundraiser and will also raise awareness of the disease. Glentoran are also working with Alzheimer's Society NI on a programme of Dementia Friend training. Follow our social media for updates.
We will also be reaching out to supporters who are cyclists to accompany the two visitors on the last leg of their journey. Any supporters that are interested can email socialpartnership@glentoran.com for more information.
The Dundonald - Burnley link, Still going strong
Dundonald Glentoran Supporters Club continued to strengthen the link between the two clubs following the Glen Little transfer, developing a relationship with both Colne Clarets and Barrowford Clarets supporters clubs, with regular reciprocal trips from both sets of fans made to Glentoran and Burnley games.
Since DGSC first visited Turf Moor for a game against Millwall in 1997, the club have continued to travel on an annual basis over to Burnley for the last 25 years, usually taking around 15 keen Glenmen with an affinity for The Clarets each season. Unfortunately the behind closed doors Premier League season of 2020/21 prevented travel last season, but they returned for the recent Burnley v Liverpool match in Feb 2022, and continue to share happy times with their established Clarets counterparts on each visit.
