Legends reopen Ron Manley Suite

Three years after its opening, the Ron Manley Suite in the Bet McLean Oval was rededicated last night before our home Danske Bank Premiership win over Ballymena United.

During last year’s lockdown, the club took the opportunity to redecorate the suite with a view to reopening as the Ron Manley Legends Suite. Managed by lifelong supporter Harry Hawkins, the bar area is boosted by bespoke portraits of individual Glentoran Greats designed by Glens Media Team member Owen Atkinson and produced by Think Print & Design. It is hoped that the new lounge will provide a warm welcome to all former Glentoran and opposition players for many seasons to come.

The redesigned lounge was formally opened by Glentoran Chairman, Stephen Henderson and the recently appointed NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor. They did so in the presence of a number of invited guests from Ron’s family, including his sister Carol, two of his three sons, Ross and Mark and other close relatives Ivan and Colin Brown and Charlene and Steven Kennedy.

Glentoran Chairman Stephen Henderson and NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor formally reopen the Ron Manley Legends Suite

Among the Legends in attendance last night were Johnny Jamison, Rab McCreery and Alan Gracey who played in 18-year old Ron’s debut first team game a (a 1-0 away win over Coleraine on 20th October 1979). Also there were an incredible seven players from Ron’s last match for the club (a 5-1 home league win over Glenavon on 8th February 1992). These were Alan Paterson, Raymond Morrison, John Devine, Gary Smyth, Andy Mathieson, Gary Macartney and Gary Hillis. In total, sixteen of Ron’s former team mates attended the event. A fitting tribute to a Glenman loved by everyone at the club for over forty years.

Apologies were received from Ron’s two most successful managers – Ronnie McFall and Tommy Jackson – and from two of his most notable team mates, double winning captain Jim Cleary (on holiday) and his “invincibles” Gary Blackledge (working). Both sent warm tributes with their apologies.

The full list of Legends who attended the rededication and who received a warm welcome when paraded on the pitch were:

Glentoran's 2 longest serving outfield players with 8 Leagues. 10 Irish Cups and an incredible 1,391 appearances between them (mostly in the same back four!) Colin Nixon and Paul Leeman

Representing Glentoran from 1964 to the present day (Left to right) Detroit Cougars Billy McKeag and Billy McKeag, current player and coach Elliott Morris (3 Leagues, 4 Irish Cups and 743 appearances ... so far and our longest serving player of all time), and League and Cup winning full back and 250 Club member Jason Hill and his son Rory.

Representing the 1976-77 Championship team and the 1973-74 European Cup Quarter Finalists (left to right) Johnny Jamison. Andy Dougan and captain of the 1980-81 "Invincibles", Rab McCreery

Winner of 3 League titles and 5 Irish Cups and 517 Glentoran appearances, legendary keeper Alan Paterson, with 1970s midfielder and current Glentoran Legends regular Alan Gracey

Need a league or cup winning goal? 5 League titles, 12 Irish Cups, 930 appearances and 228 goals between them, Raymond Morrison and Johnny Jameson

2 massive Glentoran players for well over a decade. 6 Leagues, 8 Irish Cups, 964 appearances and 218 goals between them. Barney Bowers and Billy Caskey.

Centre back partnership in our last double season, both multi trophy winning captains with 4 Leagues, 7 Irish Cups and 801 appearances between them. John Devine and Terry Moore