The Clubs AGM is on Tuesday night the 2nd June 2015 at 7:30pm at The Millbridge.
All club members, players & supporters are encouraged to attend. Please try to make it.
BUFC Annual Dinner and Awards 2015
Ballynahinch United held their annual dinner and awards presentation in the Primrose Restaurant on Saturday night.
Club Chairman Gilbert Cromie welcomed those present and thanked committee, players, supporters and sponsors for all their hard work during what had been a successful season for both the United and Swifts teams. The following awards were presented:
Swifts
Managers Player of the Year: Gareth Bingham
Players Player of the Year: Graeme McMullan
Leading Scorers: Alan Massey / Graeme McMullan
United
Managers Player of the Year: Stuart McMullan
Players Player of the Year: Ethan Majury
Leading Scorer: Ian McMullan
Young Player of the Year: Greg Allison
Club Leading Scorers: Alan Massey / Graeme McMullan
The Golden Boot Award went to first team defender Davy Boal
A Message from the Chairman: A24 Ballynahinch Bypass
Details of the plans and proposed vesting arrangements in connection with the A24 Ballynahinch Bypass have now been published. As expected the Millbridge Playing Fields are going to be seriously affected and indeed to a much greater extent than had originally been understood.
The proposals indicate that when the work is complete all that will remain in the ownership of Ballynahinch United F.C. will be the Millbridge pitch [and a narrow strip around it] and the clubhouse with everything else getting vested e.g. training pitch, car park, road to treatment works and the access to the ground is also being altered.
All of these changes have a detrimental effect on the running of Ballynahinch United and its Youth Section and causes considerable problems for match days and particularly when there are large crowds for local derbies and more senior teams in Irish or Intermediate cup games.
The loss of the training pitch has serious financial implications leaving the club with having to hire additional pitches for this activity which spread across the whole club could result in additional charges of up £300 per week.
On match days the loss of the overflow car parking raises all sorts of health and safety concerns particularly as the proposals do not cater for over 100 cars leaving and collecting players at training / match days.
The club would want to make it abundantly clear that it does not wish to stand in the way of progress and if the A24 Ballynahinch Bypass is the solution to the traffic problems for the town then we support it.
The environmental impact study carried out by the authorities [and to which the club has contributed] recognises that the road will impact on the club but it does not make any suggestions as to how such an impact might be mitigated. The fact that vesting carries a certain amount of financial compensation is no comfort to an amateur organisation that depends on the support of the business community and the financial contributions of its members/supporters for its existence. The loss of our training facilities puts a significant strain on our already limited and stretched financial resources not for a few weeks or months but for years and years to come.
Additionally the construction of a new road contains significant plans to cater for the rain water that will run of it and it will not be until it is finished that the full effects of the work on our pitch drainage will be known and if they have got it wrong we could face major problems.
There is a free exhibition at The Market House this Tuesday 12.30pm to 9pm and Wednesday from 10am to 9pm where questions will be answered by Transport NI. We are asking for as many players, supporters and the many friends of the Club to take a few minutes to call at The Market House and register their concerns in respect of the proposals and the effect that they will on Millbridge.
Questions that we will be asking are:
- Have you considered relocating the Millbridge Playing Fields to another location in the town?
- Could any of the land adjoining the Millbridge be leased to the club as a substitute for the training facilities that it is losing?
- Are the Civil Engeering Designers confident that the drainage to the Millbridge pitch will not be deteriorated as a result of the construction of the road?
- Are the Civil Engeering Designers confident that the fumes from the traffic passing so close to the Millbridge will not have a detrimental effect on the players using the pitch and grass on it?
Your assistance and support in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
GILBERT CROMIE
CHAIRMAN
BALLYNAHINCH UNITED
Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2nds 4 v 3 Strangford
The Swifts continued their excellent form and made it 4 games unbeaten with victory over a very good Strangford side at Millbridge last Saturday.
It was the visitors who were on the attack from the start and their early efforts were rewarded by a goal on 15 minutes when a shot was deflected into the net giving keeper Johnny McGreevy no chance. The early dominance of the visitors dissipated after the goal and their goal was besieged by the Swifts and five minutes later Gareth Bingham controlled a cross from Ben Wilson, swivelled and fired the ball across the keeper into the corner of the net.
Ten minutes later the home side were ahead when Graeme McMullan was bundled over in the penalty area and Alan Massey converted the spot kick.
After 35 minutes the Swifts led 3 – 1 when Bingham scored his second from a Graeme McMullan pass after the teenager had two shots blocked. The visitors pressed hard to get back into the game and got a goal back shortly before half time.
In the second half the game turned on its head as a fluent Strangford side, who are one of the best teams in the division, placed the Swifts defence under constant pressure. Scott McNeill, Paul King, John McMenamin and Shaun Bonner had to work overtime as wave after wave of attack came their way. Veteran Ian Blackwood entered the fray for the injured McNeill and they held out until the 70th minute when Strangford equalised.
Substitute David Griffith entered the fray and very shortly afterward he made an instant impact. Following good work from Matthew Manly and a through ball from Craig McMullan David Griffiths ran onto the edge of the six yard area where he was upended by the Strangford keeper. Referee George, who had a fine game, pointed to the spot and Alan Massey sent the keeper the wrong way to make the score 4 – 3.
The Swifts held on thanks to some stout defending and a few good saves from McGreevy to secure the three points. Strangford will wonder how they lost this game as the youthful side played some excellent football however their defending was suspect and contributed to their downfall.
This Saturday the Swifts entertain Rossglass County at the Millbridge in what will be a difficult assignment.
Match Report: Ballynahinch United 2nds 4 v 3 Killough 2nds (21/03/15)
The Swifts who were fresh from a rip roaring 4 – 4 draw the previous week produced something similar at Millbridge on Saturday however they had to come back from 1-0 and 3-2 down to a Killough side that battled throughout.
The visitors took the lead after ten minutes but Graeme McMullan got them back onto level terms with a shot across the keeper into the net after good work from Jaimie McPhail who had been on the score sheet the previous week.
Skipper Alan Massey gave the home team a 2-1 lead from the penalty spot when Craig McMullan was brought down however Killough struck two quick goals to take a 3-2 half time lead.
In the second half the Swifts looked much more settled and with defenders Bonner, King, McMenamin and Craig McMullan marking tightly they limited the Killough sides scoring opportunities while keeper Johnny McGreevy’s handling was excellent.
Midfielders Bingham, Massey, McPhail and Manley enjoyed greater possession giving forwards Graeme McMullan and David Griffiths a number of opportunities.
The Swifts got level when a long range cross from Shaun Bonner was mishandled by the Killough keeper into his own net.
In the last half hour manager Davy Teggarty introduced Scott McNeill at right back and moved Craig McMullan upfront along with cousin Graeme and it proved to be the decision that would secure his team maximum points. Minutes later the Swifts were ahead when Craig McMullan was upended by the Killough keeper and Alan Massey fired his second goal and his team’s winner into the net.