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Mixed year for Ballyclare Comrades

Wednesday, 6 January 2010

2009 HAS proven to be a year of change for Comrades as Jamesy Kirk's side made way largely for a team of players put together by Gordon Chambers, who had taken over the managerial reins toward the end of 2008.
The latter part of last season was to prove a slog for Comrades as they became embroiled in a battle to stay in the top 14, which would ensure Championship 1 football for 2009/10.
Having taken over mid-way through the season and therefore, with little opportunity to revamp a squad, which had rather lost its way, Gordon Chambers had to make do with what he had got in terms of personnel, whilst also suffering the loss of important players such as Michael Smith, who transferred to Ballymena United, and Eddie Hill.
By the end of the season the side had managed to secure that 14th league place. However, it was a case of there being three teams worse than Comrades over a disappointing season for the club.
There had been the odd good result after the New Year, but these were few and far between, as shown by a record in the league of only 5 wins in the last 20 matches.
One bright spot of a dismal season was the success of the Reserve side under Michael McWilliams, which won the Ballymena Provincial Intermediate League Junior League Two by a runaway margin.
It was obvious that changes were needed and indeed many of the players who had been with Comrades for a number of years chose to move in the summer to fresh challenges elsewhere; notably stalwart club captain, Stuart McClean, who joined Jamesy Kirk at Nortel and player of the year Ryan Murray who went to local rivals Carrick Rangers.
Comrades fans were apprehensive as their squad shrunk and familiar faces departed during the close season. However, Gordon Chambers was busy formulating plans for rebuilding his side and he managed to bring in over a dozen new faces in the summer, completely changing the face of the squad, with additions such as striker Mark McClelland from Carrick Rangers, experienced ex Dundela and Bangor midfielder David Officer and the return of fans favourite Stuart Galbraith. Two players retained from last season were given important roles within the team, with Andy Forsythe being made captain and Andy Long vice-captain.
After an understandably slow start to the new season, as the side got to know each other, including a disappointing exit of the Steel & Sons Cup at home to Queen's University, Comrades have begun to look like a much stronger outfit than the one that finished 2008/09 and at the time of writing had secured a seven match unbeaten run in all competitions. There is much more optimism on the playing front, with the side having a good blend of youth and experience and growing as a unit with every match.
Off the field the club's committee has been working hard to secure the go-ahead for a project under Sport NI's Soccer Strategy Facilities Programme, which would transform Dixon Park. The club hopes that it can overcome some difficult hurdles and that work can begin on this exciting scheme at the start of 2010.

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