Ballymena FC (Northern Ireland)
This next club
is one that had a controversial end, something that seems to be a common
conclusion to a lot of Forgotten Football Clubs from Northern Ireland. Whilst
their name is still around in the Irish League, this club was a different one
altogether. Any may say that Ballymena FC was the catalyst for Ballymena
United, a club who themselves has won five Irish Cups. But Ballymena FC also
had somewhat a bit of success in their short history. In fact, their success
came in their first season. This is their story.
Formed on April
7th, 1928, by four businessmen in the town of Ballymena, the club
immediately joined the Irish League. The club wore light blue jerseys and
played their home games at the Ballymena Showgrounds. On August 20th,
the club played it’s first competitive game against Belfast Celtic, losing 3-0.
Their league form was steady, and they finished 6th in their debut
season in 1928-29. But it was their cup exploits that made a name for Ballymena
FC.
The 1928-29
edition of the Irish Cup began for Ballymena FC with a first round tie against
Glentoran. The first game ended 2-2 and went to a reply, one that Ballymena won
2-1. The quarterfinals was a much more straightforward affair, as they beat
Broadway United, 4-1. A semi-final against Coleraine was set up and once again,
Ballymena eased through the round, winning the game 3-0 and setting up a final
against much fancied favourites, Belfast Celtic. However, on 30th
March 1929, Ballymena FC defeated Belfast Celtic, 2-1, thanks to goals from
Shiels and Ireland international, Jimmy McCambridge.
Whilst the
Irish League performances were modest, the club seemed to thrive in the Irish
Cup. The 1929-30 season saw them reach the final once again, thanks to win
against Derry City in the first round, 4-1, beating Belfast Celtic in the
quarterfinals, 3-2 and then defeating Newry Town. 3-2 in the semi-finals. They
met Linfield in the final, a club who had won the Irish Cup fifteen times
already. And they were not to be denied their sixteenth title when they beat
Ballymena FC, 4-3 in the final, a game that saw Joe Bambrick score all four for
Linfield.
The next season
was a poor one for the club on the field, as the exited early from the Irish
Cup at the hands of Glentoran in the quarterfinals. They also finished a
disappointing 8th in the league. The 1933-34 season turned out to be
the last one for the club when Albert McClelland, the club chairman, was
overheard talking about making payments to amateur players. This led to the
clubs suspension and an investigation by the Irish Football Association began.
During the investigation the IFA requested to see Ballymena’s accounts, however
the club refused to hand them over and their suspension was made permanent.
The club
Ballymena FC and their corporate entity was eventually wound up in 1936.
However, in 1934, a new club Ballymena United had already been founded in the
hope they could replace the suspended club, albeit being a totally new club and
entity.
#NeverForget