This is the first of a four part review of 2020 as it impacted Glentoran on and off the pitch. It has been written for www.glentoran,com by Andrew Morrison, a final year student in Sports Journalism at Liverpool John Moores University.
Part One: January -March
The year 2020 was definitely a memorable one, a year which saw the breakout of the Coronavirus pandemic bringing both football and everyday life to a standstill.
However, there were plenty of positives. Glentoran achieved success both on and off the pitch. This came in the form of winning the Irish Cup for a 23rd time, as well as continuing our work in the community.
Back in January we kicked off on New Year’s Day with a trip to Dungannon Swifts. Goals from Willie Garrett and Elvio Van Overbeek sealed a 2-0 win and extended the Glens unbeaten league run to 14 games.
The side continued their run of good form with a penalty shoot-out win over Portadown in the Irish Cup as well as another 2-1 league win over Warrenpoint.
Head Coach Mick McDermott was rewarded for his team’s good form by being presented with the Manager of the Month award for December of which saw his side win three and draw two of the five games played.
However, speaking at the time the boss thought that a different manager should have won the award:
“If it was up to me, I probably would have given it to Paddy McLaughlin for the job he did at Cliftonville. It’s people like Paddy that drive us on to make sure we are better every single week.”
Mick McDermott accepting his award from NIFWA Chairman Stuart McKinley
January also saw Glentoran Women’s long serving Gail Redmond honoured. Gail was awarded with the Gamechanger Award at Belfast Telegraph Sport Awards.
‘Shocked’ to win the award, she has been at the club for 13 years as a player and now has a lead role within the women’s side.
Glentoran Women General Manager Billy Clarke spoke on how much of an asset Redmond has been since joining the club:
“Her coaching influence within the first team squad has been a major reason for our trophy success of the past two seasons. Gail continues to coach within our girls’ academy, mentoring our coaching staff and players”.
Elsewhere the academy was in action against sides south of the border. Matches at various levels against high quality opposition, included Shamrock Rovers, St Joseph’s, Cherry Orchard, Shelbourne and Quay Celtic.
Academy General Manager Stephen Lowry spoke of the benefits of playing cross border opposition:
“The exhibition matches have been great for team bonding purposes and building relations between cross-border clubs as well as exposing our young players to the highest levels possible.”
“It’s great to have these highly competitive games here on our doorstep too and it is proving mutually beneficial.”
With the January transfer window open the club made a number of new signings: Rory Donnelly, Seanan Clucas, Caolan Marron and Andrew Mitchell all joined the club, joining Keith Cowan and Ciaran O’Connor who had arrived in December.
Meanwhile Jonny Frazer, Hrvoje Plum, Marijan Antolovic and Cricky Gallagher all signed contract extensions.
The window also saw club legend Curtis Allen leave the club after six years and 110 goals. The striker joined Coleraine on loan until the end of the season, but later went on to sign a permanent deal at The Showgrounds.
On the pitch the results continued to go in favour of the Glens. A 2-0 win away to Institute and a 4-0 victory at home to Glenavon came either side of a 2-1 defeat at Larne.
However, the loss meant that McDermott’s men had lost for the first time in the league for 16 games.
February was a continuation of a very busy start to the year for the Glens. The shortest month of the year saw the men’s side play five games as well as the club making multiple big announcements.
First up was a trip to Queens University in the Irish Cup. A sold out crowd in South Belfast saw the Glens come out on top of a tight game.
Three goals from Robbie McDaid sealed a 3-2 victory in a game which saw the home side come back from a goal down on two occasions. The victory secured Glentoran’s place in the quarter-final of the competition.
However, just days later the club would lose their first home game since October. A 1-0 defeat to Coleraine meant we had lost back to back league games having previously gone 16 matches undefeated in the competition.
However we had one of the greatest positives in the club's recent history with the Board of Directors announcing the club was finally debt free. The announcement came on February 4th and meant a debt of around £2 million had been cleared.
The clearance was the result of contributions from investor and majority shareholder Ali Pour, from Glentoran Supporters’ Clubs, individual supporters and through personal loans by directors.
Speaking on the announcement Ali Pour said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be a part of Glentoran’s Climb back to the Top. The passion I’ve seen amongst the players and all the supporters has been truly inspiring! I’ve worked very closely with the management and the board and have committed myself to ensure that the club is financially stable in order to continue our journey.”
Glentoran majority shareholder Ali Pour
Meanwhile Club Chairman Stephen Henderson also had his say on the historic day: “Today is a monumental day in the history of Glentoran FC. Today we stand on our own two feet in the external debt free daylight, having inch by inch clawed our way out of the abyss of debt over the last decade, a debt that crippled the club and threatened our very existence.”
Games continued to come thick and fast. A home game to Carrick Rangers was followed by an away trip to Glenavon and an Irish Cup quarter-final at home to Crusaders.
The first of the three matches saw Elliot Morris make his 737th appearance for Glentoran meanwhile, recent signing Rory Donnelly made his debut.
A game which was largely dominated by the Glens saw the side fail to make a breakthrough. However, a solid defensive performance also meant we picked up a point from a game which finished 0-0.
Next up for the Glens was a trip to Glenavon. A game which was played in terrible conditions saw out an exciting 2-2 draw.
Twice the East Belfast side take the lead twice but, on both occasions were pegged back.
Ultimately, what happened in the closing stages denied Glentoran of all three points. A penalty was awarded for a handball from the home side’s Aaron Harmon and up stepped Nasseri, taking instead of the usual Robbie McDaid as he was looking for his hat trick. Striking the ball low to the goalkeeper’s right, the shot was saved by Northern Ireland international Jonny Tuffey.
The next game however was a major triumph - a 2-1 win in the Irish Cup over Crusaders.
Moko after his semi final strike
The quarter-final win was courtesy of goals from Robbie McDaid and Marcus Kane having gone down 1-0 by half time.
Following a Marcus Kane first time strike midway through the second half the Glens were awarded a penalty on 88 minutes. The decision came after much discussion from the officials but after a short delay Robbie McDaid sealed the win from the spot.
The game which was an entertaining spectacle was also attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino who was in Belfast for the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board, the body responsible for the determination of the Laws of Football. He was joined at the match by IFA President David Martin and IFA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson.
Gianni Infantino in the Oval Boardroom with legendary former Glentoran players and managers Tommy Jackson and Roy Coyle
However, sadly before the month was over lifelong Glenman and long serving member of the Ballymac GSC, Roy Miller passed away.
Roy served as Chairman of the Ballymac for several years in the early 1990s. He was a very active member of players’ benefit committees from the era of Raymond Morrison and George Neill through to the latter days of Colin Nixon and Paul Leeman.
Ballymac Chairman Thomas Sewell said of Roy: “He was a great member and former chairman of our club. He joined in 1983, when the Ballymac was just a few years old.”
“Roy was still active at all our functions throughout his later years and he will be very sadly missed by everyone at the Ballymac.
The month of March was one heavily disrupted by the outbreak of Coronavirus. With only one game played it would set the tone for what was to come for the rest of the year.
A home game against Belfast rivals Cliftonville would be the final game before the NIFL would come to a halt.
Little did everyone know that this would be the final game the Glens would play for the foreseeable future.
Less than a week later the Irish FA would make the following announcement:
"The Irish FA Board has met today. In response to the evolving situation around Coronavirus (Covid-19) and having listened to partners throughout the football family, the Board has suspended the current football season, at both domestic and grassroots level.”
The decision matched that of sporting associations and other events around the world as mass gatherings came to a halt.
Unfortunately, the sad news would only continue. We at Glentoran announced the loss of both former Director Kevin Milhench and former Castlereagh Supporters Club Chairman Albert Kirk.
Kevin Milhench passed away following a period of ill health. Milhench joined the board at the club in January 2013 and stayed for six years before retiring due to his ongoing health problems.
During his time at the club Kevin worked hard to maintain standards around the Oval. Alongside a team of volunteers, he helped with maintenance as well as playing a key role in the club superstore and bar.
Kevin Milhench (left) with the club;s chief sponsor, Paul McLean (Managing Director of Bet McLean)
Albert Kirk passed away on March 29th following a lifetime spent supporting Glentoran home and away.
A long term member of Castlereagh Supporters Club, he later went on to become the club Chairman. Even though in his 70s he was beginning to have failing health problems, Albert stepped up to the mark by serving his year as chairman with distinction and oversaw the good running of the club.
Before the month was out the Glentoran Club Chaplain, Rev, David Thompson offered a prayer to support those among the Glentoran and East Belfast families who were anxious, alone or troubled during the very difficult time for our society.
In his prayer he said:
“Give those with significant responsibilities wisdom as they navigate difficult decisions balancing public health, the need to complete fixtures and the financial wellbeing of Clubs.”
“We pray for our Glentoran family and surrounding East Belfast community, remembering especially those who are ill, self-isolating, anxious or isolated; those who suffer from underlying health conditions, health care workers, those providing essential services, and those who are experiencing business difficulties or loss of work.”
Le jeu avant tout.
