Saturday’s Glentoran Gazette, the match programme that crams more into its 40 pages than many of its counterparts in England and Scotland achieve in issues twice the size, is worth collecting alone for Beth Stafford’s latest quirky cover of Paddy McClean on the iron throne from Game of Thrones. Inside, as Rodney McAree brings his bang in form Dungannon Swifts side to the Oval after a tremendous win away at Larne, he reveals why he suddenly left the Glens 16 months ago while Declan Devine not only looks forward to a tough assignment but hails the attitude of his players last Tuesday night as well as the eye-catching performance of Finley Thorndike. Declan also reveals news about Aaron Wightman and Jonny Russell. Our writers recall two names from the Glens past. Brian McClelland details the rise of Alex Elder from Glentoran to Northern Ireland international via Burnley while Philip Stevenson recalls wartime guest Johnny Deakin, the man who returned in peace time to finish his career at the Oval. We point out the success of Glentoran’s Academy and look at how Larne’s Euro success has disguised a poor season on the continent for local clubs and suggest a possible solution. In a typical leftfield column Henry Muldrew explains why he often links music with football and finds a surprising stadium in Yorkshire while elsewhere we detail how the battle for the League of Ireland crown is shaping up. Meanwhile, Norman Ternahan and Tommy Sewell review Tuesday night’s County Antrim Shield win over Carrick Rangers in words and pictures. The award-winning Gazette, by the fans for the fans, is £4.
