Author: Sean McKevitt

Sean is an avid supporter of Newry City AFC and will be bringing you all the latest news from the club.

Fans in focus: Gareth McCullough

Name: Gareth McCullough

Age: 33

How long have you supported Newry? 29 years, since I was four years old.

How did you come about supporting the club?
Family tradition. My late Grandfather was a former Chairman, President and Trustee who helped broker the deal for Pat Jennings to begin his professional career and my Dad has supported Newry for nearly 60 years. It’s in my blood!

Your favourite ever player?
Impossible to pick just one from those I have seen – John Corvan was the first player I remember seeing and being amazed by. Joey Cunningham for his sheer ability on the pitch and his personality off it. The living legend that is Ollie Ralph – Goalscorer supreme and one of the nicest people I have had the fortune to meet. Stuart McClean – a colossus at centre-back and the best defender I have seen in a Newry shirt bar none and Richard Clarke – came to the club as a youngster with potential and left as one of the best midfielders in the country.

Favourite current player?
Every player that pulls on a Newry shirt is an instant favourite and gets my support. The lads currently at the club are arguably the most important bunch to pull on the blue and white stripes.

Best memory supporting the club?
Following the team into Europe in 1999. Never thought I would be watching my club playing a Bundesliga team in European football. Also, winning Division 1 was fantastic and the following season beating Linfield, Cliftonville and Portadown was brilliant. Thousands at The Showgrounds. The three trophies we won in Championship 1 a couple of seasons ago was as enjoyable a season as any however. Also, last season in Intermediate B was great fun.

Funniest moment supporting the club?
There are almost too many to mention. Getting into plenty of heated debates with opposition supporters and players is always a laugh. Jonny Ferns going on his backside at ‘Stute on the pitch is as much of a highlight as any of the away days I’ve been on. Plenty of jokers on the bus!

Favourite ground you’ve visited and why?
Hard to look past Mourneview Park or Stangmore Park. Both are compact grounds where you are close to the action and both are good for a pre-match, half-time and post-match beer too! Mourneview just edges it for me though. However, from a results point of view, our 6-4 win at Dungannon a few years ago was up there with the best. Clarkey celebrating with the fans after the sixth goal was brilliant.

What is it you like most about following Newry?
The fact that it’s my local team and the only team that I can truly genuinely say I have affinity to. I like watching matches on TV or going to Old Trafford for example as much as anyone, but nothing beats going to watch your home town team with your mates, seeing friends playing for the club.

Hopes for the future?
That we continue to progress up the leagues until eventually returning to our rightful place in the Premiership. However, it’s more important that the club continues to be run correctly, the way it is at the minute, and that only those who genuinely care for it are allowed to make decisions.
Also, I hope Graeme Edgar can find out where the net is sooner rather than later too!

NCAFC pub quiz

The club are holding a pub quiz on Thursday 12th February in The Canal Court Hotel, with a 9.30pm start in The Granary bar. Following the quiz there will be a raffle held with many great prizes to be won. Come along and join us with your family, friends and colleagues in what is sure to be a great night’s craic!

‘Last Man Standing’ returns

NCAFC Last Man Standing is back! The entry fee will remain at £10 and the winner will receive a minimum of £300. This may rise, depending on entry numbers.

The Rules of the competition

1. It’s simple, just pick the winner of one English Premier League match each round. If your selection wins – you progress to the next round, lose or draw and you’re out.

2. Once a selection is made, you will not have the ability to change it.

3. You may not pick the same team to win more than once during the tournament. So for example if you pick Man United in Round 1 and they win, then you can’t pick them for the rest of the competition.

4. Should you forget to make your selection in any round, you will automatically be assigned the highest placed team in the league that you haven’t already selected.

5. In the event that any match involving a team you have selected is postponed or cancelled for any reason, you will continue to the next round of the competition. That team will no longer be available for selection in future rounds.

6. Your round 1 and 2 selections must be submitted in the seller’s entry sheet. From round 3 onwards, fixtures will be text/emailed to each participant before 8pm every Thursday of any game week. Your selection must then be submitted to us no later than 6pm each Friday.

7. Entry fee must be submitted to the seller before the 31st January 2015 or player will not be entered into the competition.

How to enter

Entry can be obtained from the following people:
Gary Wilson
Eric Wilson
Eric Johnston
Martin McLoughlin
Paddy McGrath
Artie Kavanagh
Ian McDonald
Andrew Boyd
Marty McParland
Gareth McCullough
Neil McCullough
Laura Hillen
Mo Ruddy
Decky McParland
Gary Redpath
Darren Mullen
Mickey Keenan
Chris McMahon
Paul Donegan
Peter Murphy
Niall Crilly
Conor McCaul
Jimmy Walker
Joe Campbell
Sean Hand
Keith Johnston
Mark Lowry
Mark Patton
David O’Connor
Rian Hand
Neil Barr
Graeme Edgar
Aaron Brilly
Sean McMullan
Sean McKevitt
Dave Larkin
You can also enter at McSwiggans Bar (Beside the Bank Bar)

We also accept paypal payments. If you would like to enter this way then email your name along with your selections for Week 1 and Week 2 from the fixtures below to ncafclms@gmail.com. We will then give you details on how to pay the £10.

Round 1 fixtures
Saturday 31st January 2015
Hull v Newcastle
Crystal Palace v Everton
Liverpool v West Ham
Man Utd v Leicester
Stoke v QPR
Sunderland v Burnley
West Brom v Tottenham
Chelsea v Man City
Sunday 1st February 2015
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Southampton v Swansea

Round 2 fixtures
Saturday 7th February 2015
Tottenham v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Leicester v Crystal Palace
Man City v Hull
QPR v Southampton
Swansea v Sunderland
Everton v Liverpool
Sunday 8th February 2015
Burnley v West Brom
Newcastle v Stoke
West Ham v Man Utd

Newry complete trio of signings

Photo: Newry Manager Darren Mullen is pictured here along with new signings – (Left – Right) Sean Hand, Paddy Mooney and Conor Sloan.

Newry City Manager Darren Mullen has secured the signings of Sean Hand, Paddy Mooney and Conor Sloan. All three have had previous spells at the club.

Sean Hand, who is equally at home on the left or the right flank, was one of Newry’s key players in the league winning team last season. He has returned to the club this season after a spell working in America.

Paddy Mooney has re-signed for Newry after a short stint at Warrenpoint Town. The 23 year old played for Newry for a spell in the second half of last season – scoring in his first three games for the club. He will no doubt be a quality addition to the squad if he can replicate this form.

The highly rated midfielder Conor Sloan completes the trio of signings. Conor arrives at the Showgrounds after a spell with Crusaders. He has previously played under City boss Darren Mullen for Newry Reserves.

Speaking to newrycityafc.co.uk, Mullen said: “Conor Sloan is a classy player with a great range of passing which suits our style of play. As soon as we heard he was available, we had no hesitation in getting him back into the our squad and look forward to seeing him play.”

“The return of Sean Hand gives us added pace and another goal threat from either wing. His versatility should also prove invaluable to the team.

“Paddy Mooney is another welcome addition to the squad. Once we get him back to full fitness his undoubted quality will help us to progress as a team.

“All three players will be vital members of our squad and shows that we are not resting on our laurels when it comes to bringing better quality players into the club. Hopefully they can all play their part in our progression as a team over the coming years.”