UNDER 16 SHIELD FINAL REVIEW

UNDER 16 SHIELD FINAL REVIEW
It was a plucky display from the Lurgan lads, but it wasn't enough
as they lost 2-1 to a very strong Downpatrick side. In horrendous
weather conditions, both sides done their best to try and play
decent football. Downpatrick had the better of the first half and
deservedly went in at the break 1-0 up. Town rallied in the second
period and matched Downpatrick in every aspect. They got their
reward when Rioghan Meehan headed in a free kick on 46
minutes. But the lads couldn't hold onto their lead and
Downpatrick made it 2-1 with just 17 minutes to go. Downpatrick
comfortably won their semi final 8-1 and have only lost one game
all season. Town where worthy adversaries to their opponents and
can hold their head heads high. Well done lads #hots
Town Squad: Michael Allen, Matthew Andrews, Jamie Brannigan, Travis Hall, Harvey Joyce,
Liam Kelly, Jake Kerr, Ethan Lavery, Niall Loney, Padraig Magee, Criostan McAreavey, Chris
McConville, Ciaran McGeown, Rioghan Meehan, Liam Shortall, James Smyth, Feidhlim
McDonald, Geoff Greenaway, Steven Beattie, Scott McBride. Shield Final Special Pages 6 & 7
Copyright Lurgan Town FC 2014
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NEWS IN BRIEF
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CURTIS TAKES A BREAK
Under 17 player Curtis Cassells has decided to take a break
from football for the foreseeable future. Curtis played his
250th 11-a-side game for the club in the 5-3 defeat to
Control Centre (recording all the scores, updating group Bloomfield on 6th December 2014. Curtis had previously
tables and making sure the matches run on schedule).
made his debut for both the 1st Team and 2nd Team aged
just 15. Hopefully this won’t be the last we see him in a
Pitch Coordinators (making sure that the teams are ready Lurgan Town shirt.
to go when the air horn sounds to start the matches &
making sure there are balls to play the matches). COACHING STAFF RESHUFFLE
Jim Leathem has moved to help Graeham Leathem with
Timekeeper (sounding the air horn to start all the matches Lisburn League U11 side. Paul Cassidy is now running the
and to signal half time & full time).
Mid Ulster U11 side. Russell Collie has stepped down from
his role with the Lisburn League U14s. He will be replaced by
Traffic Management (a team control all parking and traffic Nigel Johnston. Ken Whan has stepped down from his
flow around Arena).
assistant managers role with the Lisburn League U13 side.
Environmental (cleaning duties on the day such as emptyTRAINING TIMES CHANGED
ing bins and keeping the toilet areas clean).
The Lisburn League U11s and U12s have now an
Hospitality (a team of people who will provide food and additional training session from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on
Monday evenings. The National League U15s will now train
drinks for special guests).
from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. For up to date info on training
If interested in a role please email info@lurgantownfc.com times please visit the club website: www.lurgantownfc.com.
New training sessions will be added in January 2015.
ABOVE: JAMIE GETS ALL CLEAR and this is how he
shared it with the world via his Instagram and
Facebook pages. We are all delighted for you Jamie.
UNDER 9 DELIGHT AT SHAMROCKS TOURNAMENT WIN
On Sunday 21st December, Paul Heasley and his Under 9 side won the Lurgan Shamrocks Tournament. The
boys won 8 games and drew 1 on the way to the top prize. Even more impressive was the fact that they only
conceded one goal along the way. Well done lads
Game 1: Lurgan Town 1-0 Springfield/Linfield
Game 2: Lurgan Town 2-0 Celtic Boys
Game 3: Lurgan Town 2-0 windmill
Game 4: Lurgan Town 0-0 Craigavon City
Game 5: Lurgan Town 3-0 St Oliver Plunkett
Game 6: Lurgan Town 1-0 Lurgan Shamrocks
Game 7: Lurgan Town 1-0 Portadown Youth
Semi Final: Lurgan Town 1-0 Portadown Youth
Final: Lurgan Town 3-1 Lurgan Shamrocks
Jim Maguire Fair play Jessie and Stevie Turner..well played
boys.
Ruth Martin Well done boys u all were fantastic
Nicky Carson Well done boys.. Won 9 games and drew 1..
Only conceded 1 goal in all the games.. Great
performance from all of you !!!
Katie Marks Brilliant. .Well done lads :)
TOWN SQUAD
MANAGER: Paul Heasley
PLAYERS: Conan McCarffery, Laim Carroll, Calum
Carson, Joshua Martin, Jesse Turner, Dylan Alexander,
Adam Furphy, Christopher Heasley, Matthew Hughes
“Oh we’re the boys in
yellow and black”
DON’S DID YOU KNOW?
THE BACK PASS RULE
The editor asked me after a hard training session the other night "Don,
do you remember the days when the Keeper could pick up a back pass?"
“Do indeed” I said. The days when you could have a wee sleep for the
last 10 minutes if you were a goal up and just let the defence play keep
ball with the goalie and frustrate the life out of the opponents; while
the crowd snored. "Good man" he said, would you write a piece for WIE
cause the rest of us are too young!
Probably only players over 28 or so today are likely to have played
competitively before FIFA introduced the back pass and associated
changes to the rules from 1992. Up until then a player could lay the ball
back to his Goalie who would lift it, give it a hug and a squeeze, bounce,
lift and repeat before kicking into play and do it time and again. Ok if
you want to wind down the clock but hardly a beautiful game watching
balls from midfield going straight back to the Keepers arms. This pattern
of defensive "play" had grown more and more into the game in the
1980's such that the 1990 World Cup competition was judged the
dullest ever, rife with time wasting back passes and excessively
defensive play. Ireland keeper Packie Bonner had the ball in his hands
for over 6 minutes in one phase of play. Euro 1992 was no more entertaining and FIFA arguably made one of the best decisions in history with
2 changes to Law 12.
The goalkeeper cannot: Handle the ball when a team mate has DELIBERATELY kicked the ball to him and/or Handle the
ball directly from a throw in. An indirect free kick is award for such a foul. Note; "kicked" means with the foot, if the ball
comes off the shin, thigh etc then it is NOT a foul, however flashy tricks like flicking the ball up then heading into the
keepers arms to get round the rule are illegal. Further to
this the keeper cannot release the ball from his hands then
pick it up again and now can only hold it for up to 6 seconds.
From 1992 the "Backpass" rule improved the game as a
spectacle but also goalkeepers had to adapt quickly. In the
early days of the rule ‘keepers sometimes looked like
clowns; forgetting the rule and conceding indirect free
kicks with then the whole team lining up along the goal to
try and block, or they made hasty attempts at a clearance
under pressure with slices and air shots a plenty (check out
YouTube for some gems).
Of course the Ref also has to decide on the pass being
deliberate (no more pressure on the man in the middle
then). The modern ‘keeper therefore needs greater skills of
speed and mobility, to be comfortable with both feet
under pressure and think coolly, as much as have good
hands. He needs to be an integral part of the defensive unit
more than ever so if he receives a pass he has options to
play to in order to retain possession.
Goalkeeper coaching has changed to reflect this and one of
the finest examples of how today’s keepers are evolving is
Manuel Neurer of Bayern Munich and Germany, who has
the confidence and skill to play as a "sweeper-keeper".
So there you have it, a rule change that quickened up the
game and its unintended consequence on goalkeeper
development.
TOWN DONATE SELECTION BOXES
At the beginning of December, Lurgan Town donated 80 selection boxes to Keith Hall from the Mid Ulster Game
Development Centre. Keith accepted the selection boxes on behalf of St. Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army.
The Mid Ulster GDC had this to say:
“All of us at the Mid Ulster Games
Development Centre would like to say a
massive thank you to all our member clubs
and their parents for their amazing response
to our Donate a Selection Box Appeal”.
Left: Phil McKinley presenting Keith Hall from
the Mid Ulster GDC with 80 selection boxes on
behalf of Lurgan Town .
“During the latter part of November we ran
this appeal hoping to hand over 50-60
selection boxes to the Salvation Army and
St. Vincent de Paul but you surpassed even
our wildest imagination and we presented
over 300 selection boxes to both
organisations”.
“Both the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de
Paul could not express their thanks enough
and Anita McGeown from St. Vincent de
Paul said she could not believe her eyes and
that we were going to help make a lot of
children very happy”.
Left: Chris Wright (Mid Ulster GDC), Jim Jeffers
(Salvation Army), Anita McGeown (St. Vincent
de Paul) and Kris Lindsay (Mid Ulster GDC).
“Jim Jeffers from the Salvation Army told us
that they did not know what they were
going to do as they had run out of selection
boxes, so our donation could not have come
at a better time. We at the Centre asked for
a good response as this was the first time we had done such an appeal but you surprised us all and showed us that the
people of the GDC have the biggest hearts of all. A genuine sincere thank you from all of us”.
As of Saturday 27th December 2014
Croistan McAreavey (U16 LL) - 13 goals
Adam Loughran (U15 MU) - 12 goals
Jack Hogg (U14 MU) - 11 goals
Lewis McKinley (U15 MU) - 9 goals
Ryan McGuckin (U14 MU) - 9 goals
Kyle Cousins (Seniors) - 7 goals
Andrew Heaney (Seniors) - 7 goals
Matthew Hagan (U17 LL) - 7 goals
Dylan Hoy (U17 LL) - 7 goals
Aaron Winters (U15 MU) - 7 goals
Jack Doyle (U13 LL) - 7 goals
Tiernan Rooney (U13 LL) - 6 goals
Stevie Turner (Seniors) - 5 goals
Sidney Tavares (U17 LL) - 5 goals
Ben Norton (U13 LL) - 5 goals
Dee Lavery (U13 LL) - 5 goals
Nicholas Hamilton (U13 MU) - 5 goals
Conor Lavery (U13 MU) - 5 goals
Marc Douglas (Seniors) - 4 goals
Ryan Henry (U14 MU) - 4 goals
Matthew Clarke (U13 MU) - 4 goals
Adam Stewart (Seniors) - 3 goals
Curtis McDonald (Seniors) - 3 goals
Full list of scorers on www.lurgantownfc.com
SHIELD FINAL SPECIAL
Snapshots from our Facebook page showing the support for the guys in the final and how we broke the news on our Twitter page
#shieldfinalselfie
Coaches Greenaway, Beattie and McBride get in on the ‘selfie’
action with Gordon, Johnston, Parks and Parks
SHIELD FINAL SPECIAL
Photos courtesy of Stephen
Greenaway Wedding Photography
MARTIN’S MEMOIRS... WORST YEAR EVER
So its New Years eve and 2014 I haven’t never kicked a ball this year. Possibly
the first time since I was 7 or 8 this has happened. I’ve come to terms with
retirement and I had a decent run so it wasn’t my worst year ever....that came
the year I first left Lurgan Town.
It was the first time I had ever really been dropped. I was working in Dublin
and wasn’t at training. The new manager, Niggsy McCann, didn’t fancy me in
goal. I was a lot younger and much more arrogant than I am now (true story)
so I thought , screw this I’m outta here. Off I went to Dollingstown on the
recommendation of Garth King (thanks Kingo). It started well. Pre season
training was varied and interesting. I did got serious fear when, as a
goalkeeper, I finished 3rd in the bleep test - not a good sign. However I
ignored that and on we went. Now you have to bare in mind, Dollingstown
wasn’t the club it is now. Yes it was a Mid Ulster Division 1 team, but on the
pitch it was far from that. Garth King left and went to Lurgan Town very early
on so I was left with no one I really knew. I’m not the sort of person to walk
away so I stuck it out and God Bless Gary Knox who looked after me and kept
me sane.
Problem 1 - 3 different managers in a season is never good. Greggsy I didn’t really know, but he was a nice guy, but results
weren’t great and he was replaced with Neal McCullough. NOW this guy had a wealth of experience and his training
methods were exceptional but for whatever reason I felt he didn’t like me. I was often given the blame really for things
that weren’t my fault, goals I had no chance of saving - it was constant. Slowly but surely I started to resent that and
started to resent being at Dollingstown. League results were no better but had a great run in the Junior Cup to the quarter
final stage and we were eliminated by a team from Derry - despite saving a penalty in normal time I got the blame for the
winning goal when my fullback went to sleep.
What didn’t help my horrible year, was that across town, Lurgan Town seemed to be enjoying their first year in Division 1.
They looked organised and they played with a unity that my team just didn’t have. I played against the Town twice that
year and I recall completely dominating at the Arena and losing - which as you can imagine didn’t go well for my pride or
ego. Scott Gordon even scored a penalty passed me at our home game, again another defeat. I think I played OK but a loss
is a loss.
It was a horrible year and Hubert Watson even had a talk with me about letting me sit a few games out because he could
clearly see I wasn’t happy and I wasn’t focused on what I was doing. The truth was I hated it, and it wasn’t his fault , the
club was just in a bit of a mess - Look at it now though times have changed. The team were ultimately relegated that year
finishing second from bottom - and I was glad to see the year over. What I learned was that pride comes before a fall and
some humility. I left Lurgan Town for what I thought were
the right reasons but I really should have stayed and
fought for my place at the club which was and will ever be
forefront in my heart.
When, or if, you ever consider leaving Lurgan Town, stop
and ask yourself why are you going? And think long and
hard. I’m so glad though that my worst footballing
memoirs are about a club other than Lurgan Town. It’s a
great place to be and run by people that have a true
affection for the place. They wear their hearts on their
sleeve, like I always will.
Happy New Year, Riggs
CAPTAINS CORNER - LEWIS McKINLEY
Lewis McKinley is the captain of the Mid Ulster U15 side. This is his 9th
season with the club. We asked him a few questions about his
teammates and manager.
Best Trainer - Timmy Millen
Worst Trainer - Adam Hall
Quickest Player - Adam Loughran
Slowest Player - Stuart Hoy
Most Skilful Player - Adam Hall or Aaron Winters
Best Passer - Jonny Russell
Best In The Air - Ryan Upton
Who Thinks He's Better Than He Actually Is? - Adam Loughran
especially at penalties. ;o)
Who Takes the Longest To Get Ready Before A Match - Adam Hall
Managers Favourite Saying - Always come of the pitch and say you have
given 100%
Favourite Game This Season - Winning 4-2 against Lisbellaw Utd with
Adam Loughran scoring 4
Ambitions For The Season - To retain knockout cup.
CAPTAINS CORNER - FEIDHLIM McDONALD
Feidhlim is the captain of the Lisburn League U16 side. This is
his 3rd season with the club. We asked him a few questions
about his teammates and manager.
Best Trainer - Jamie Brannigan Worst Trainer - Ethan Lavery
Quickest Player - Michee Allen Slowest Player - Me
Most Skilful Player - Mackers (Croistan McAreavey)
Best Passer - Paddy Lynch
Best In The Air - Liam Kelly
Who Thinks He's Better Than He Actually Is? - Ciaran
McGeown
Who Takes the Longest To Get Ready Before A Match Rioghan Meehan
Managers Favourite Saying - Can beat all round use at the
weekend but can’t win a header on a Saturday
Favourite Game This Season - Shield 1st round against
Lisburn Distillery [2-2 AET, 4-3 win on pens]
Ambitions For The Season - To win knockout cup.
UNDER 12 CASTLE JUNIORS TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
On Sunday 14th December, Glenn Emerson and his Under 12 side won the Castle Juniors Tournament Plate.
Game 1: Lurgan Town 4-1 Ards Rangers
(Rhys Emerson x2 Jamie Elliott, Michael McConville)
Game 2: Lurgan Town 5-1 Cliftonville
(Jamie Gillis x2, Rhys Emerson, Neal Anderson, Michael McConville)
Game 3: Lurgan Town 3-0 Ards Academy
(Michael McConville x2, Nathan Craig)
Final: Lurgan Town 2-0 St Oliver Plunketts
(Rhys Emerson, Michael McConville)
Nicola Hawthorne - Well done boys! Great wee team.
Jill Dupre Herron - Well done!!
William Martin - Well done lads.
Andrea McCorry - Well done boys great football played.
Eleanor Hogg - Well done boys keep up the good work.
Stevie Turner - Well done lads !!!!
Sarah McConville - Well done boys great days football despite the
bitter cold.
TOWN SQUAD
MANAGER:
Glenn Emerson & Dean Hawthorne
PLAYERS:
Reece Herron
Jamie Elliott
Nathan Bell
Rhys Emerson
Michael McConville
Neal Anderson
Jamie Gillis
Craig McCorry
Luke Kerr
Ross Hawthorne
MEET THE COACHES
Full Name:
Dean Hawthorne
Full Name:
Adam Beattie
Team:
Under 12
Lisburn League
Team:
Under 15
National League
DOB:
25/07/1974
DOB: 29/09/1981
Lives: Portadown
Lives: Lurgan
Favourite Team: Liverpool
Favourite Player: Diego Maradona / Steven Gerrard
Previous Clubs As A Player: New Century, Lurgan Institute,
Linfield, Glenavon, Brantwood, Lurgan Town, Hill Street
Previous Club As A Coach: None
Favourite Team:
Newcastle United
Favourite Player: Zidane (of all time). Zlatan Ibrahimovic
(current)
Previous Clubs As A Player: Portadown Youth, Lurgan
Town, Seagoe, Lurgan BBOB, Craigavon City, Knockmenagh
Swifts
Proudest Moment In Football: Watching my 2 sons play
and enjoy the game I love for the same team where it
started for me 26 years ago.
Previous Club As A Coach: None
Full Name:
Robin Carson
Full Name:
Gregory Cassells
Team:
Under 15
Mid Ulster
Team:
Academy
Under 10
DOB: 16/07/1993
Lives: Lurgan
Favourite Team: Glenavon
Favourite Player: I love watching Messi and Ronaldo, they are
two geniuses but my favourite player is Matt Hummels.
Previous Clubs As A Player: Lurgan Town, Glenavon
Academy, Portadown
Previous Club As A Coach: Never been a coach at another
club but thi year I was given the opportunity to help Phil out.
I’m really enjoying it and its going well.
Proudest Moment In Football: This year when I was made
vice captain (of the seniors). I honestly believe that this club
has the potential to go on an win many trophies at
Intermediate level provided the lads put the hard work in. It is
an honour to be given this role and be part of something great
Proudest Moment In Football: Gaining promotion from B
section to A section with the U14s in my first year as a
coach.
DOB: 13/12/1972
Lives: Lurgan
Favourite Team: Liverpool
Favourite Player:
Jan Molby
Previous Clubs As A Player:
Hill Street Youth, Lurgan Town, Queens Park Swifts
Previous Club As A Coach: Lurgan Town (For 10 Years)
Proudest Moment In Football: I have a few. (1) Captaining
the ‘Brian Gordon’ dream team at U16s to Lurgan Town’s
1st league title. (2) Northern Ireland trials and U16s and (3)
Bristol Rovers trials when I was 17.
DECEMBER RESULTS
Saturday 6th December
1st Team 0-0 Markethill Swifts
2nd Team 1-1 Red Star Res
U17 LL 3-5 Bloomfield
U16 LL 4-1 North End
U15 NL 1-4 Glenavon Academy
U15 MU 1-1 Armagh City
U14 LL 0-4 Hillsborough Boys
U14 MU 7-0 Enniskillen Rangers
U13 LL 1-3 Hillsborough Boys
U13 MU 0-6 Loughgall Youth
12th December 2014
U15 NL 1-4 St Oliver Plunketts
13th December 2014
1st Team 1-2 Craigavon City
2nd Team P-P Ambassadors Res
U17LL P-P Dromara Village
U16 LL P-P Lisburn Youth
U15 MU P-P Cookstown Youth
U14 LL P-P Lisburn Distillery
U14 MU P-P Tandragee Rovers
U13 LL P-P Lisburn Distillery
20th December 2014
U17 LL 4-1 Hillsborough Boys
U16 LL 2-1 Willowbank
U14 LL 1-7 Lisburn Youth
U13 LL 2-7 Lisburn Rangers
27th December 2014
U16 LL 1-2 Downpatrick
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GAME
The coaches/committee plus guests Christmas game took place
this afternoon. The yellows won 6-5 but somehow it went to a
penalty shoot-out. Justice was done with the yellows winning the
penalty shoot-out. The referee was man of the match. Eh Dr Don?