Ards F.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Ards Football Club Limited | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Tha Wee Airds, The Red & Blues, Super Seasiders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Clandeboye Park, Bangor Co. Down |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 4,000 (660 seats) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Brian Adams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Paul Byrne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Irish First Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005/06 | 16th (relegated) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ards F.C. is a Northern Irish football club playing in the Irish First Division, following relegation the previous season from the Premier League. The club, founded in 1902, are nicknamed the Super Seasiders and are based in Newtownards, but plays its home matches at Clandeboye Park in Bangor, which they share with their arch-rivals Bangor F.C.. The current managers are Gary Hillis and Raymond Morrison. Club colours are red and blue.
The club has suffered severe financial problems in the last ten years. This resulted in the club having to sell its ground, Castlereagh Park, to property developers. The club has shared grounds with Cliftonville F.C., Carrick Rangers and now Bangor F.C.. Plans for a new ground in Newtownards are stalled at the planning stage with no sign of progress. Recent relegation to the First Division will mean a struggle for this historic football club, with the potential loss of their best players and the money constraints that smaller crowds bring. The 2006/07 season has brought further woes for Ards FC, poor performances in the First Division mean there is little chance for promotion this year. Joint managers Raymond Morrison and Gary Hillis were sacked in November 2006.Three players walked out of the club stating they would not play again for them. A November defeat by local rivals Bangor in the cup and a strong promotion push by Bangor has added extra pressure on the Ards Board. As of December 2006, there is no news of any ground being developed for the club and local press has speculated that Ards may never be in a financial position to build a stadium.
Contents |
[edit] Honours
- League title: 1
- 1957-58
- Irish Cups: 4
- 1926-27, 1951-52, 1968-69, 1973-74
- League Cups: 1
- 1994-95
- Champions League Runners Up 1888-89
[edit] Current squad
As of 26th of February, 2006:
|
|
[edit] Staff
- Life Patron: Lady Mairi Bury
- Chairman: Brian Adams
- Treasurer: J Bailie
- Company Secretary: T Beggs
- Manager: Gary Hillis & Raymond Morrison
- Assistant Manager: Gary Hillis
- First Team Coach: Raymond Morrison
- First-team Attendant: Alan Gregg
- Reserve Team Coach: John Spence
- Third Team Coach: Frank McClean/Paul Richie
[edit] Contact information
Address: Ards FC Sports Club 2d Portaferry Road Newtownards United Kingdom BT23 8NN
Telephone: 028 9182 8328
[edit] External links
| Irish League 2006-2007 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Irish Premier League
Armagh City | Ballymena United | Cliftonville | Crusaders | Coleraine | Donegal Celtic | Dungannon Swifts | Glenavon | Glentoran | Larne | Limavady United | Linfield | Lisburn Distillery | Loughgall | Newry City | Portadown | |
||
| Irish First Division
Ards | Ballinamallard United | Banbridge Town | Bangor | Carrick Rangers | Coagh United | Dundela | Institute | Harland & Wolff Welders | Moyola Park | Portstewart | Tobermore United | |
||
| Irish Second Division
Annagh United | Ballyclare Comrades | Ballymoney United | Brantwood | Chimney Corner | Dergview | Glebe Rangers | Lurgan Celtic | Oxford United Stars | PSNI | Queen's University | Wakehurst | |
||
