More than 112 years after Jack “Duker” Boyd helped Glentoran Football Club win the Vienna Cup, his family returned to The BetMcLean Oval to reconnect with an important part of both their family history and the Club’s heritage.

What began as a chance meeting in the Oval car park became a special occasion for descendants of one of Glentoran’s most successful players.

On Thursday 21st May, relatives of Jack Boyd met former Glentoran Director John Moore during a visit to The BetMcLean Oval. Following a brief tour of the ground, arrangements were made for the family to return the following week.

That return visit, on Wednesday 27th May, provided a memorable moment as Stephen Boyd, grandson of Jack Boyd, from Kingston, Ontario, alongside Jack’s great-grandsons Ryan and Liam Kuhn from Winnipeg, Manitoba, were given the opportunity to hold the Vienna Cup trophy won by their grandfather and great-grandfather 112 years ago.

Jack Boyd enjoyed a distinguished career with Glentoran, scoring 114 goals in 170 appearances for the Club. Alongside the Vienna Cup, he won two Irish Cups, two City Cups, two Belfast City Cups, the Belfast & District League, the Gold Cup and the County Antrim Shield.

More than a century on from that famous Vienna Cup success, the visit provided a unique opportunity for the Boyd family to reconnect with Jack Boyd’s achievements and their place in Glentoran Football Club’s history.

Glentoran Football Club was delighted to welcome Stephen, Ryan and Liam to The BetMcLean Oval and thank them for making the journey to celebrate an important chapter in the Club’s story.