Tomorrow evening we begin our Bet McLean (League) Cup campaign for 2023/24 with a historic first ever meeting with Dollingstown FC.
Dollingstown play in the Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League, the third tier of the Irish League. With only two league games played they opened with a with a good 4-1 away win over the PSNI, but then suffered a traumatic 7-1 home defeat to early pacesetters Limavady United. Their only other competitive games so far were a 2-0 win over Armagh City in the previous round of this tournament, 5-1 v Windmill Star in the Bob Radcliffe Cup and a 5-0 win over Newry City Reserves in the McComb’s Coaches Intermediate Cup.
Dollingstown are managed by former Glenavon player Stephen Uprichard, a player who might be familiar to the home support tomorrow night will be the very experienced former Glenavon, Lisburn Distillery, Ballymena United, Dungannon Swifts and Ards centre forward Gary Liggett, who at one stage was linked with a move to Glentoran.
Warren Feeney: “It’s important this club starts to win trophies again and that makes this game an important one as the Bet McLean Cup has proved for other clubs in the last few years that it can be a great launching pad to give players the self-confidence to go on and win more and more trophies.
I’m hoping to make a few changes from Saturday to give a few other players a chance. But with the injuries we have there are some positions we can’t change. Plus I wouldn’t disrespect Dollingstown by taking the result for granted and putting out a weak team. But I definitely expect an improvement in attitude and performance and of course the right result.”
This game is pay at the gate with admission £10 (adult) and £5 (concession)
Disability /Inclusion Parking
The club notes some confusion at our last home game over parking for those fans who attend and utilise the disability / inclusion area. We can confirm that designated spaces have been allocated. To those supporters eligible for these places, simply ask the steward at the main gate to direct you there.
To reiterate the club’s recent statement, we strongly request that supporters respect the rights of the local residents by parking well away from housefronts in the immediate locality. There is plenty of available parking at the Holywood Arches Heath Centre.
