KEN McMULLAN MEMORIAL MATCH
1st Bangor Over 35s 4
NI Masters 3
By Dennis S Nash
THIS particular match report breaks a long-term tradition, because not only was it a one-off occasion, it was also the first time Feature Match had delved into a Sunday game.
Sunday afternoon’s event at the Drome was in tribute to Ken McMullan whose life, efforts and enthusiasm were channelled into the promotion of Junior football and in particular 1st Bangor Football Club.
The day had a two-way significance in that the 1st Bangor club had unanimously decided to rename their headquarters to McMullan Park as a lasting memorial to Mr McMullan and, at the same time, staged a fixture with their own over-35 players lining out against the famous Northern Ireland Masters team.
The pull of the occasion certainly attracted a large crowd to the Portaferry Road ground and there was an atmosphere and ambience around the entire site as the spectacle started to unfold.
Following a minute’s applause, the Masters kicked-off with the home side defending the goals at the Airport end in the opening half.
It was the visitors who rushed into attack and within minutes Simon Gribben had scored with a neat chip over Paul Miskelly in the 1st Bangor goal.
The home ’keeper was quickly back in the spotlight, but this time he dealt with the charge as the Masters owned all the early pressure.
The play had reached the 10th-minute mark when, after good approach play from the home outfit, Ryan Harvey took the opportunity to head in the equaliser.
On the half-hour the Masters reclaimed ownership of the lead as a great finish from David Costello put them back in front at 2-1.
After the break, Chris Watters fired the Masters into a 3-1 advantage with a fantastic finish and the possibility of the local side getting back into contention began to appear remote.
However they battled and, by making generous use of their replacements, Conal Wollsey struck twice to level matters.
With time running out 1st Bangor went in front for the first time when after a corner was swung in, Stephen McCormick, back in the area from life abroad, headed home what turned out to be the winner at the back post.
A great game to grace a great occasion with both sets of players a credit.
THE RENAMING CEREMONY
Club chairman Chris Scott conducted the renaming ceremony in an appropriate and fitting manner and the official guest on the day, Irish FA president Conrad Kirkwood’s words gave the occasion the respect and reverence it merited.
Telling attendees he was ‘honoured and touched’ to be asked to play a part in the naming of McMullan Park in memory of the late Ken McMullan, Mr Kirkwood added:
“So many people, both past and present at the club and its neighbours, have taken time to show their respect today.
“Ken will be a huge loss but good luck to the current committee who have honoured the man and preserved his memory.”
KEN McMULLAN
Kenneth James McMullan first became involved in local football back in 1963 with the Bangor Parish club.
That connection lasted a very short four years before he set off on a lifetime career at 1st Bangor. At that stage Ken’s intense interest really blossomed and personally I can recall answering his call over to Clandeboye Road to announce proceedings at a popular youth competition which he operated for some years at that time.
During the years when Ken was in total control of team selection and strategy, he reminisced that Ken Best and David Mitchell were among the best players he ever worked with.
He would also often recall the names of Norman Weatherup and Michael Goddard.
When asked one time about the club’s biggest achievements he mentioned winning the Junior Cup in 1980 and then claiming the Junior Shield in both 1981 and 1983.
Ken once acknowledged that he had a special place in his thoughts for Glasgow Rangers and Blackpool and named Stanley Matthews as his boyhood hero.
Somewhere in his vast and busy life he was asked to name his favourite song and he selected Bonny Tyler’s (Simply) The Best.
Thinking over the work, effort and the dedication he put into life at 1st Bangor, it is appropriate and pertinent that we reflect on the fact that Ken’s life-long contribution to the club was indeed ‘Simply the Best’.
HISTORY OF THE DROME
I was a pupil at Regent House School during the 1940s and, as the bus conducted me to and from that place on weekdays during those years, the building on the Portaferry Road, convenient to Castlereagh Park, was a small clubhouse frequented by a tennis club from a local church.
When Michael Mayne took over ownership of the building and tennis courts he, with an enthusiastic band of helpers, removed the bank and hedges which divided the property into two and created the provision of a football pitch.
Ards Olympic and Ards FC Fourths at one time made use of the ground and it was there that my son Mark and I marked my 20 years of reporting at the Juvenile League Cup Final in the 1970s.
THE MATCH CARD
1st Bangor Over 35s: Paul Miskelly, Chris Nicholl, Isaac Caldwell, Trevor Kennedy, Paul Magee, Martin Robinson, Aaron Caldwell, Conall Wolsey, Ryan Harvey, Robert O’Neill, Chris Scott.
Replacements: Lee Maxwell, Mark Ferguson, Ryan Oliver, James Taylor, Eugene McGratten, Ben Gourley, Dean Gordon, Jamie Bryson, Mark Miller, Bill Wolsey, Frances McCann, James Stewart, Peter Hinds, Rick Willis, Aaron Morrow, Jonathan Shanks, Stephen McCormick, Craig McCracken, Sam McKee, Jonathan Busby.
NI Masters: Alistair Coburn, John Johnson, Charlie Lewsley, Liam Sloan, Mark McGlade, David Wakeham, Neil King, Sammy Wallace (captain), Jimmy McIllhagga, Chris Watters, Jackie Kerr, Gary McKee, Gerald Goodall, Simon Gribben, Barry Rooney, David Costello, Noel Dean.
Refereeing panel: Damien Grimley, Liam Kennedy, Graham McIlwrath.
PHOTOGRAPHER Neal Dorman
