On Friday night before our match v Dungannon Swifts, the new “Captains Lounge” at the Bet McLean Oval was formally opened in the presence of a number of specially invited guests – former captains of the club, and the club majority shareholder. Ali Pour.
As with the Ron Manley Legends Suite, the lounge has been fully redecorated. This time with bespoke portraits of individual Glentoran captains of the past 60 years, designed by Glens Media Team member Beth Stafford and produced by Think Print & Design. The lounge will continue to operate on matchday for players, officials and guests of both clubs. It will be managed by two very familiar faces, GFC 1882 Director Paul Meadows and Karen (Kerr) Sidwell.
The captains were welcomed by Glentoran Director Ian Clarke in the presence of former captains Jim Weatherup, Johnny Jamison. Rab McCreery, Jim Cleary, Terry Moore, Barney Bowers, George Neill, John Devine, Colin Nixon and current skipper Marcus Kane. Apologies were received from Roy Walsh, Paul Leeman and Stephen McAlorum, while Elliott Morris was fully occupied with coaching duties elsewhere in the stadium. Between them, the captains in attendance lifted no fewer than 41 trophies, nearly one third of all those won by the club.
Colin Nixon, Marcus Kane, Eddie Patterson and George Neill
There is also a montage in the lounge as a tribute to our league and cup winning managers down the years. Ronnie McFall and Tommy Jackson were unable to attend, but we were delighted to welcome our double Irish Cup winning boss Eddie Patterson back to the Bet McLean Oval. Also George Neill was proud to represent the late Alan McDonald, manager of our most recent league title winning team. George of course was Alan’s number two during his tenure as Glentoran manager.
Four stars of the 1987-1988 Glentoran double winning team: Terry Moore, Jim Cleary, Barney Bowers and George Neill
Photographs by Thomas Sewell
