Ballyclare Comrades F.C.

Ballyclare Comrades
Full nameBallyclare Comrades Football Club
FoundedFebruary 1919
GroundDixon Park, Ballyclare,
County Antrim
Capacity2,398 (538 seated)[1]
ChairmanJames Kirk
ManagerBarry Baggley
LeagueNIFL Premier Intermediate League
2024–25NIFL Championship, 11th of 12 (relegated via play-offs)

Ballyclare Comrades Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League. The club hails from Ballyclare, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Dixon Park. Club colours are red and white. The club's rivals are Carrick Rangers and Larne and games between the three clubs are referred to as "The East Antrim Derbies".

History

The club was founded in 1919 by veterans of the First World 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 Battle of the Somme and in many other First World War battles. 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.

The club's reserve team play in the NIFL Development League for under-20s. The club also has a partnership with local youth club Ballyclare Colts, whose sides (from under 11 to under 15) provide players to progress to Comrades' own youth sides at under-17 and under-18 level. The under-18 side plays in the IFA Youth League.

The club was relegated to IFA Championship 2 in the 2010–11 season and finished in 6th place in the 2011–12 season, but the following season brought promotion back to Championship 1 after finishing as runners-up behind Championship 2 winners Knockbreda. One of the club's most famous products was Northern Ireland and San Diego defender Paddy McNair, who attends games when possible. Gareth McAuley and Michael Smith both played for the Comrades before switching to professional football.

The club finished an impressive third in the 2016–17 season, losing out in a promotion playoff to Institute. The club continues with the ambition of returning to the NIFL Premiership.

Current squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF  NIR Kyle Calderwood
DF  NIR Lee McCune
DF  NIR Corrie Burns
DF  NIR Theo McToal
DF  IRL Paul Finnegan
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW  NIR Fiontan O'Boyle
FW  NIR Brandon Doyle
MF  NIR Cillin Gilmour
FW  NIR Michael Leetch
FW  NIR Jack Berry

Honours

Senior honours

Intermediate honours

† Won by reserve team [2]

References

  1. ^ "Dixon Park". Ballyclare Comrades. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Honours". Ballyclare Comrades FC Website. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.