After playing 531 games at right back for Glentoran, George Neill had his testomonial before the league campaign of 1995/96 kicked off. As the Glentoran fans hailed one of the club's most faithful servants little did they know his replacement would go on to surpass Neill's achievements and become one of Glentoran's most iconic figures in the club's history. George Neill's number 2 jersey was handed over to a 17 year old showing a lot of promise, Colin Nixon.
'Nicky' went on to make 37 appearances in his debut season, adding two goals to his collection. He started the 1996 Irish Cup Final, picking up his first piece of silverware for the club when Glen Little's wonder goal gave Glentoran a 1-0 victory over Glenavon. The 17 year old had started one of Glentoran's great relationships with the Irish Cup.
Two years later in 1998 Nixon added his second Irish Cup medal with another 1-0 victory over Glenavon. The 97/98 season was a troublesome one on the field for The Glens after a game with Linfield in March 1998 saw three red cards to Glentoran players and at least 20 supporters taken to hospital in a day branished 'Soccer's Day of Shame'. The game had more implications afterwards as Justin McBride was handed a 6 match ban resulting in him missing both Irish Cup semi-final and finals.
After the shame of early March, disaster struck the IFA again as Glentoran and Linfield were soon paired together in the Semi-Final draw! The game kicked off at 11am with both sides restricted to just 3,000 supporters in order to contol the violence and thankfully the game passed off trouble free. Even better news, an Andy Kirk brace gave Glentoran a 2-1 victory sending us to a repeat of the 1996 final.
Justin McBride was awarded Player of the Year and Glentoran were without our strongest player for the Final against Glenavon. The game was level after 90 minutes and went to extra-time. It was an unlikely hero in John Kennedy who fired low across the goal to give Glentoran victory. Colin Nixon played 50 times that season for Glentoran more than any other player despite still being in his teen years!
In 2000 Glentoran and Portadown met in the Irish Cup Final, for the most recent time before tomorrow's showpiece event! In the 5th round Glentoran were handed a tricky tie against Crusaders but goals from Gilzean, Young and Player of the Year Elliott gave Glentoran a comfortable 3-0 win. Armagh City proved harder opposition, grabbing a 2-2 draw in the 6th round before a comfortable 4-0 win in the replay at The Oval saw Glentoran eventually through. Newry Town were the quarter final opponents, McCann, Young and an own goal seeing us safely through to the semi-finals 3-1 winners.
The semi-final that followed is as widely remembered in East Belfast as any Final when we defeated Linfield in dramatic circumstances at Windsor Park. Rory Hamill and Stuart Elliott thought they had sent us to another final but William Murphy's 92nd minute equaliser sent Linfield's fans into ecstacy. Such was the delight of both fans and players, some of them barely noticed the cross coming into their box and Sean Armstrong writing his name into Glentoran folklore heading home a late, late winner silencing the Kop and sending the North Stand to delirium.
Another Final awaited for a 21 year old Colin Nixon, he was named captain on the day with Chris Walker missing out on a space in the squad. Hugh Dickson started at centre back at just 18 years of age but kept Vinny Arkins, the top goalscorer in the country quiet throughout. The moment fell on a perfectly presented plate from Tim McCann to Ian Gilzean to head home at full stretch the winner as Glentoran won the Cup again. Nixon lifted it high into the sky infront of the North Stand, becoming the youngest ever player to 3 Irish Cup successes. Nixon lifting the trophy became the Gazette photo for the 2000/01 season.
To watch highlights of the 2000 Irish Cup Final click here
As featured yesterday, Michael Halliday took over from there scoring winners in both the 2001 Final against Linfield and Coleraine in 2004 handing Nixon and Glentoran two further medals to take his tally to 5.
Nixon's Glentoran career kicked on winning 4 Irish League medals and scored one of Glentoran's most famous ever goals in 2004 against Allianssi of Finland in the UEFA Cup giving Glentoran our first ever European win overseas.
In 2005 he was part of the 'Morgan Day' drama scoring the second goal in the famous 3-2 victory.
Colin Nixon overtook Billy McCullough's 'unbeatable' record of 555 appearances for the club and went on to make his 700th appearance against Portadown in late 2010. When Eddie Patterson announced Nixon would be leaving at the end of the 2013 season, Nicky was given a standing ovasion before our final league game. When he came on in the second half, The Oval rose again for one of our greatest and Nicky stole the show grabbing a late, acrobatic equaliser, his 88th and final goal for the club.
But there was still one last game for Nixon to play in. Eddie Patterson had led Glentoran to our first Irish Cup Final since 2006 when we were fierce underdogs against Cliftonville. Cliftonville were recently named champions and chasing a treble. Just three months earlier, Glentoran had been unable to pay their players. At 1-0 at half time thanks to a Joe Gormley strike, our faint hopes were dying.
However, against all odds Glentoran produced one of our greatest ever Cup Final heroics, Andy Waterworth equalising and sending the game to extra time. Jimmy Callacher and Waterworth both scored in added time and Glentoran had won our 21st Irish Cup. In extra time Colin Nixon rose from the bench and got ready with the final pretty much sown up. It gave 6,000 Glentoran fans a chance to give him a great send off as the North Stand roared at his entrance to the pitch. His final entrance was also one of the greatest exits we have ever had.
Nixon's 6th Irish Cup medal ranks him amongst the all-time greatest and his record of 794 appearances may never be beaten. Nixon is a true Irish Cup legend.
Thanks to everyone who read these articles again this year. Two years ago when we did this we asked for another chapter and the squad duly delivered. Let's hope for more of the same tomorrow in the biggest game scheduled at The Oval for 10 years.
A special thanks as always goes to Roy France's 'Glentoran- A complete Record' as without this the articles from the early days wouldn't have been possible.
Good luck to all the boys tomorrow- let's bring the cup home! COYG