Ballyclare Comrades F.C.

Ballyclare Comrades is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club was founded in 1919 by veterans of the 1914–18 War, most of them from "C" Company of the 12th Royal Irish Rifles - a battalion made up entirely of East Antrim men, who fought at the Somme and in many other famous First World War battles.

The club hails from Ballyclare, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Dixon Park, which it shares with tenants Ards. Club colours are red and white. The current manager is Gordon Chambers, who replaced the long-serving Jamesy Kirk in November 2008.

From 1990 until 2003, the club enjoyed senior status, but reverted to intermediate status when the Irish Premier League was established and the number of senior clubs was reduced from 20 to 16.

The club also has a large amount of youth teams, from under 10s through to under 18s.

The club was relegated to IFA Championship 2 in the 2010–11 season after finishing 14th in IFA Championship 1.

Ballyclare's rivals are Carrick Rangers and Larne and games between the three clubs are referred to as "The East Antrim Derbies".

Honours

Senior honours

• Ulster Cup: 1
  • 1997–98

Intermediate honours

• Irish League B Division: 6
  • 1960–61, 1962–63, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1988–89
• IFA Intermediate League Second Division: 1
  • 2006–07
• Irish Intermediate Cup: 8
  • 1926–27, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1954–55, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1989–90
• B Division Knock-out Cup: 2
  • 1983–84, 1988–89
• George Wilson Cup: 4
  • 1955–56, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1993–94†
• Steel & Sons Cup: 6
  • 1943–44, 1960–61, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1986–87
• Clarence Cup: 3
  • 1980–81†, 1982–83†, 1983–84†

† Won by reserve team

Current squad

As of 29 April 2011

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

References

External links

• Ballyclare Comrades F.C. Website
• Irish Football Club Project
• nifootball.co.uk (fixtures, results and tables of all leagues)