Ballynahinch Olympic F.C.

Ballynahinch Olympic
Full name Ballynahinch Olympic Football Club
Nickname(s) Olympic
Founded 1973
Ground Bellsbridge, Dromara
Chairman Martin Sloan
League Northern Amateur Football League
Website Club home page

Ballynahinch Olympic F.C. is a Northern Irish football club based in Ballynahinch, County Down, but playing its matches at Bellsbridge, the ground of Dromara Village, Dromara.[1] They play in Division 1B of the Northern Amateur Football League. Club colours are claret and blue.[2]

A Brief History

Ballynahinch Olympic was formed around 1973 to cater for the increased demand for soccer in the Ballynahinch area. A number of the founding members, such as B. McAllister, B. Sloan, S. Murnin, J. Dornan, and B. Brown still maintain a keen interest in the progress of the club.

Initially, the team played at the Millbridge and made steady, if unspectacular, progress on the playing front. That is until the 1976/77 when they won the Newcastle League 2nd Division. Due to the increased interest in the club at this time it was decided to form a Seconds team. The following season the First team completed their home league programme undefeated.

As the club continued to thrive, new faces were attracted and one in particular, Mr Tom Potter, was to become the new driving force in the club over a 12-year period between 1978 to 1990. During Tom’s reign the 1st team won the double of the Second Division title and the Harry Clarke Cup. It was also because of him that the club began a Youth policy that is continuing to this day with 4 underage teams.

In the 1991/92 season, under the stewardship of the late Norman McCullough, the team reached the semi-finals of the Harry Clarke Cup and several months later failed at the final hurdle in the prestigious Junior Shield. The club did manage to win some silverware that season though, the 2nd team managed by Eamon (Mouse) Wilson won the Binian Cup after a marathon penalty shoot-out. This was the first of a number of wins in this competition for the 2nd team.

In the winter of 1994 a young player named Mark Quinn who had progressed through the ranks of our youth teams and was at this time a regular in the first team squad died in tragic circumstances. It was his family’s wish that he be buried wearing his Olympic No 11 shirt. Because of this, the club approached the Newcastle League committee asking that we retire the No 11 shirt in memory of Mark. This request was approved by the said committee.

One of the local competitions which the club participated in remained elusive, namely the Bobby Dalzell Cup. This situation was addressed in the 1997/98 season when, after several postponements, the First team captured the trophy by defeating Kilkeel in the final. At this time Mr D. Travers was in charge of the 1st team.

For a number of seasons after this, the club as a whole took a downturn with the 1st team languishing in the first division looking enviously upwards to the premier league. However, the club’s fortunes improved again in the 2002/03 season when, under the joint management of Paul (Charlie) Sloan and Stevie Ward, two ex-players whose enthusiasm for the club never faltered even during many a lean year, the 1st team won the 1st Division title, going through the whole season undefeated in the league. Not satisfied with this, the same duo set about repeating the feat in the Premier Division. Many a dissenting voice at the start of the 2003/04 season reckoned the team would struggle to compete at the higher level. No-one, however, told the 1st team squad this and they made the doubters eat their words by again storming through their league programme and winning the league with a bit to spare. It is not often that a team has retained the Premier League title, but in 2004/05 season the 1sts did so. Not only that, but the team also got to the final of both the Bobby Dalzell and Harry Clarke Cup competitions. They missed out on the Dalzell Cup, losing on penalty kicks to Castlewellan, but exacted some revenge by defeating Castlewellan in the Harry Clarke Cup final, scoring the winning goal with virtually the last kick of the game.

During this brief history, charting the clubs progress to the present day, very little has been said of the 2nd team (or for the short period it existed, the 3rd team). Although neither of these teams has had the same high profile as the 1st team, they, along with the youth teams, are the breeding ground for new talent within the club and a vital part of the structure of the club to ensure ongoing success.

Amateur League

The season of 2009-2010 showed a new chapter for the club's history, their acceptance into the Northern Amateur Football League. After 5 years of trying with ill effect, our wishes were granted, with a step into Division 2C. During this exciting period the club started to rise through the leagues with the return of managers Paul Sloan and Steven Ward, winning Division 2B in spectacular fashion clinching the title away to their Local rivals Temple Rangers FC.

After promotion into intermediate football, season 2012-13 (Division 1C), playing their home games at Bellsbridge, ground sharing with Dromara Villange FC, the club proved again that it is a rising force in local football, narrowly missing out on league victory, but gaining promotion into Division 1B.

Ballynahinch Olympic FC Youth Academy

The club's Youth Academy has been ongoing for the past 25–30 years and has seen a number of successful players emerge through the ranks. Most notably the club contributed to the development of Glenavon Midfielder Andrew Kilmartin, as well as current players Niall Murray and Nathan Jones, who went on to play for Donegal Celtic F.C. and Dundela FC respectively. Many of the club's academy players have gone on to play local football at the highest intermediate level in Northern Ireland, and many have continued to develop at the club contributing to its continued success and progression within local football.

Most notably, approximately 80-90% of all senior players at the club have progressed through the youth academy, showing how successful it has been and how imperative the academy is for the continued success of the club. Much of the success of The Academy has been attributed to the forward thinking committee of the club all them years ago to which the club will be forever grateful.

Club Sponsor

From the beginning of the 2015-16 season, the club has secured a sponsorship deal with local Property Sales and Letting Specialists, Quinn Properties . Jonathan, a former Ballynahinch Olympic FC player, has continues to follow the club and has been a sponsor at many events that the club has held over the years. He felt he wanted to be more involved in the development of the club and believed that becoming the Official Club Sponsor would be a rewarding adventure for him, his organization and of course, the club. Quinn Property Sales & Letting Specialists was founded in 2007 by Jonathan Quinn initially as a specialist in the management of residential lettings. Jonathan was later presented with an opportunity to take over an existing Estate Agency in Ballynahinch which introduced property sales to the business and since then the company has gone from strength to strength. In November 2013 we opened a second branch in Downpatrick and we have plans to expand further in the near future.

Quinn employs 14 full-time members of staff offering a full property service to include, Residential Sales, Lettings, Commercial Lettings, Property Management, Home Removals, Hygiene Services and Property Maintenance.

Senior Teams

1sts Team

Ballynahinch Olympic FC 1st team, (sponsored by Quinn Properties ), under the guidance of managers Niall Murray and Barry Ried, are competing in Division 1B of the Northern Amateur Football League . After a successful spell at Donegal Celtic FC last season, Niall Murray has returned to the club as 1st team player/manager hoping to guide the club to promotion in the coming years.

2nds Team

Ballynahinch Olympic FC 2nds team, (sponsored by Ramery Inn, Ballynahinch ), under the guidance of managers Martin Sloan and John Molloy, are competing in the Premier Division of the Newcastle and District Amateur Football League . After an incredibly successful 2014-15 season, winning the treble with League and two cup victories, the 2nds are looking to continue their progression within the NDAFL.

3rds Team

Ballynahinch Olympic FC 3rds team, under the guidance of manager Mark Anderson, are competing in the 3rd Division of the Newcastle and District Amateur Football League . A team still in its infancy having been reformed in the 2013-14 season, the 3rds are proving to be a valuable asset to the club, providing a good platform for young players to start their progression into senior football.

Players

| title = Ballynahinch Olympic FC

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

No. Position Player
GK Ryan Walsh
GK Steven McConnell
GK Ryan Connolly
DF Patrick Flanagan
DF Liam Sloan
DF Jason Noade
DF Gavin Rogan
DF Aaron McClean
DF Micheal Savage
DF Gavin McMullan
DF Niall McGlue
DF Simon Marmion
DF Aidan McNeill
DF Rauri Maguire
DF Martin Hughes
DF Daryl Russell
DF Dylan Morgan
DF Ross Scott
DF Barry Bogues
DF Paul Innes
DF Eddie Murnin
DF Christopher Quinn

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

No. Position Player
MF Conor McMullan
MF Andrew Yorke
MF Aidan Walsh
MF Alan Boyd
MF Steven McGoran
MF Gavin Mooney
MF Gary Wilson
MF Carl Lewis
MF Connor Reid
MF Anthony O'Hare
MF Ryan Noade
MF Stephen Noade
MF Neil McAleenan
MF Michael Surgeoner
MF Brenny Greeves
MF Seamus McCartan
MF Finbar
MF Cake
MF Mark McGoran

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

No. Position Player
FW Niall Murray
FW Christopher McNamara
FW Darren Lyons
FW Ryan Molloy
FW Nyal Walsh
FW Nathan Jones
FW Liam O'Hare
FW Dean Blackwood
FW Richard McKee
FW Beatie
FW Darren McMullan

Retired numbers

Honours

1sts Team

Leagues

Cups

2nds Team

Leagues

Cups

Notes

  1. ↑ Northern Amateur League web site
  2. ↑ Northern Amateur League web site

External links

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