We have broken the rules for this one. Johnny Jameson showed me his list and he nearly gave up because of the number of great players he played with. He couldn’t settle on eleven. No surprise for someone who played 498 times for the Glens (our ninth highest appearance maker in the club’s history) and scored 123 times from the right wing, between joining for £10,000 for Linfield in September 1980 and his enforced retirement through injury in September 1993.
So, we agreed that Johnny could split his time at the Oval into two chronological parts, this time starting with 1980 to our Double winning season in 1988. This is a man who came into a Glentoran team containing 1970s legends Rab McCreery and Johnny Jamison and left it with the likes of Gary Smyth and Justin McBride coming through.
Jamie had a glorious carer at Glentoran. Among his incredible 24 winners’ medals at the club were three League Championships spanning eleven years, and six Irish Cups in eight seasons. Along with team mate Jim Cleary he was also a member of the historic Northern Ireland squad at the World Cup Finals in Spain in 1982.
As a former Linfield player and someone who grew up a Glenman in the Blues’ stronghold of Rathcoole, he was often the scourge of his old club, scoring no fewer than thirteen goals in Big Two matches. Some of those were big big goals – in 1982-83 he scored both our goals in both the Irish Cup Final Replay and the Gold Cup Final. Also, his pace and crosses from the right wing set up goal after goal for strikers as diverse as Blackledge, Manley, Mullan, Macartney, Douglas and Hillis.
So how could we not compromise with him?
6. JOHNNY JAMESON
(Part One: 1980-1988)
1. Alan Paterson (Goalkeeper)
Alan was the best keeper I ever saw in the Irish League. Thankfully he stayed with us for my whole career at the Glens. Thanks Paddy
2. Robert McCreery (Right Back)
I had to play against Rab a few times before joining Glentoran. Thankfully I was able to play with him a lot more often than against him!
Alfie Stewart (Left Back)
I thought I was very quick and sure of my game, but I can still remember playing with Alfie and realising I wasn’t as quick and sharp as he was! We did become good friends though.
Dermot Keely (Centre Back)
Dermot came to us from League of Ireland club Dundalk and made such an impact on us that he became captain. I just wish he had stayed longer than he did.
Terry Moore (Centre Back)
Terry and I first came together when I played for Rathcoole School against Terry’s school, Orangefield. He had a couple of very good spells at the Oval before going to achieve a lot in the North American Soccer League (being Canadian of course). We are still very good friends.
Jimmy Cleary (Midfield)
Jimmy was a major reason why I signed for Glentoran in 1980, I was so glad that I did because we became great friends both on and off the pitch. We were also together in the Northern Ireland squad in Spain in 1982. For me, Jimmy was the best player in the Irish League.
Johnny Jameson (Midfield)
I have always been a good runner!
Barney Bowers (Midfield)
Barney could play just as well in midfield or defence. I remember a spell in the 80s when he played sweeper for a bit and was super there. Brilliant Barney.
Gary Blackledge (Striker)
I arrived at the Oval around the same time as Blackie, and it was an absolute pleasure to play up front with him and watch him score such a great variety of goals. Thank you Portadown.
Ron Manley (Forward)
Ron was educated at Grosvenor and as a kid he rarely missed a match at the Oval when he wasn’t playing. He then came through the school and youth teams here before spending thirteen years in the first team. We all miss Ron so very much.
Gerry Mullan (Forward)
Ronnie McFall signed Gerry from Everton in 1981 and at the time he was the most expensive player in the Irish League. He then played three times for Northern Ireland in 1983 and had a great goalscoring record for us, especially in Irish Cup Finals. Gerry played with us until 1988 when he moved to Coleraine to be closer to his home in Limavady.
