This is a new series where notable Glentoran players of the past name the team they would pick from the players they played alongside during their careers in the Irish League. This will hopefully generate a few talking points and we will be asking players from most eras of the past 50 years.
1. PAUL MILLAR
Today we start with our Assistant Head Coach, Paul Millar. “Windy” came right through the youth team and seconds at the Oval to make his debut as an 18-year old early in the 1985-86 season. That first season he played 31 games, scoring 15 goals, no mean feat for a striker in a squad that included Gerry Mullan, Ron Manley and Gary Blackledge. He also scored in every round of the Irish Cup that season including a famous spectacular last-minute winner v Coleraine in the final.
In total, Windy played 53 games for the Glens, scoring 20 goals, before leaving FOR Portadown at the end of the 1986-87 season. He went on to have a long career in English football with Port Vale and Cardiff City before returning to the Irish League.
Windy’s selections all came from his spells at the Oval and Portadown.
Alan Paterson (Goalkeeper)
Great shot stopper, very quick off his line and he could kick the ball a mile
Philip Major (Right Back)
Ex Glentoran youth and reserve teammate of mine and I also played with him for Portadown twice. Good in the air, strong and athletic.
Tommy Leeman (Left Back)
I remember watching Leeper before he went to Rangers, and then playing in the same team when he returned. Fearless defender and would do 80-yard shuttle runs up the left wing.
Brian Strain (Centre Half)
Another ex-Glentoran reserve team mate and a remarkably successful captain at Portadown. Good player, strong athletic and good in the air.
Barney Bowers (Sweeper)
A real smasher. What a player? Cool calm and collected and he would sweep up perfectly around Strain.
Billy Caskey (midfield)
Outstanding player and competitor. Gave one million per cent in every game, including training. A great role model for any young player. Hard as nails and oozed quality.
Raymond Morrison (midfield)
Nuts, always the unsung hero, went about his business week after week and was loved by fans and team mates for it. He could head, tackle, create and score goals too.
Jim Cleary (midfield)
An absolute master of a player who could run matches and never had to break sweat. He was a goal scorer, goal maker and a great guy as well. What a midfield 3 those guys were. 40 plus goals between every season and every one of them a player
Gary Blackledge (Striker)
Blackie was deadly in the box, good in the air and could easily score with both feet. He would also leave one on you if he needed to, which was necessary in those days.
Vinny Arkins (Striker)
I played with Vinny in my second spell at Portadown. He was another 30-40 goal a season man. He was tall athletic and unbelievable in the air.
Gary Macartney (Striker)
Gary was another absolute gem of a centre forward. He had pace to burn, scored goals with both feet, head, knee, backside and just as easily both inside and outside the box. A natural.
Subs
Mickey Keenan (goalkeeper, Portadown)
Alfie Stewart (midfielder and left back, Glentoran & Portadown)
Terry Moore (centre back, Glentoran)
Colin O’Neill (midfielder, Portadown)
Johnny Jameson (winger, Glentoran)
Ron Manley (striker, Glentoran)
Gerry Mullan (striker, Glentoran)