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: Conor McEvoy

Name: Conor McEvoy.

Age: 26.

How long have you supported Newry? Since the 1999/2000 season.

How did you come about supporting the club? Through my mate Sean McKevitt.

Your favourite ever player? Mark Rutherford, Robbie Casey or Richie Clarke.

Favourite current player? Jimmy Walker.

Best memory supporting the club? Probably when we played Cliftonville away in the quarter finals of the CIS Cup. That game had everything. Poor refereeing decisions, penalties and late drama. After conceding a penalty in extra time I thought that Newry were going out. Then Cullen Feeney nicked one in the 120th minute to take the game to penalties. Newry scored their 5 penalties and so did Cliftonville to force sudden death. Darren King smashed his penalty home and I guess the tension was too much for the following Cliftonville player who sent his penalty into the roof of the stand behind. It was a great night.

Funniest moment supporting the club? I can’t remember exactly which year it was but I remember one year when Newry were playing Coleraine at the Showgrounds and to say there were a few rough tackles would be an understatement. We were standing behind the nets and I had turned to Sean and asked him “Does there ever be any fights between players at this level?” Sean’s reply was a rather subdued, “Na, not really.” Literally about 30 seconds later, we seen players and officials trying to break up some scuffle on the touchline so we took a run round and seen Roy McCreadie and Marty Quinn trying to knock each other out. Needless to say I was shouting abuse at Marty Quinn and laughing at him trying to fight.

Favourite ground you’ve visited and why? I always liked Mourneview Park in Lurgan, just thought it was a decent stadium.

How many games have you been to this season? About eight.

What is it you like most about following Newry? Newry is my local team and you always want to see them doing well and progressing.

Hopes for the future? Hopefully the lads can keep up this good form, stay top of the league and get promoted. I would love to see them back up in the Premiership again. A decent cup run/win would go down nicely too!

Banbridge FC 0 – 3 Newry City AFC U13

Newry U-13’s got back to winning ways after suffering their first defeat of the season to a well drilled Barcroft team on the previous Saturday.

In a match full of excellent play from both teams Newry finally broke through the Banbridge defence after 11 minutes. A free kick won by Shea Morgan in the middle of the field was quickly taken by Tiarnan Murphy who sent Joe Connolly through to slot the ball into the far corner just out of reach of the Banbridge Keeper.(Who had denied Newry with 2 excellent save early on).

Banbridge replied with some neat play and took the best out of the Newry defence. James Poucher and Tiarnan Russell made a number of important challenges to quell the Banbridge attack and bring to end an exciting first half.

From the restart Newry upped their game and started to play some neat flowing football from the back with some excellent passing moves which again only for some excellent keeping by an alert Banbridge keeper would have put Newry further ahead. The second goal finally came after quick thinking by the Newry defence sent Sean Mc Conville through on goal. With the keeper advancing Sean cooly lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back of the Banbridge net.

Newry were now in control of the game and as Banbridge pushed forward in search a goal that would get them back into the game they left holes for the home side to try and exploit. Sean Mc Conville took a quick throw to Tiarnan Murphy who neatly split open the Banbridge defence to allow Nathan Crudden to run through and drill home a low shot past the keeper and seal off an impressive win for the visiting Newry team.

It has to be said that this was an excellent exhibition of open play from both teams and that the league placing of Banbridge doesn’t do this well drilled team justice.  A great team performance from Newry all round which hopefully the boys can bring to their next game against Lisdrum Celtic.

It has to be said it was great to see so many parents travel to Banbridge to support the team and the club thank them for the encouragement and help they are giving the youth academy staff and coaches over the past few months.

Newry City AFC Christmas draw tickets on sale

Newry City AFC Christmas draw 2013 tickets are now on sale.

1st prize: £100 note
2nd prize: Meal for 2, Bank Bar, Newry
3rd prize: Paddy Power voucher
4th prize: Box of beer
5th prize: Bottle of spirits
6th prize: Christmas cake

You can purchase tickets from Decky McParland (07971134624),Gary Wilson (07745112320), any committee member or in the social club. Tickets are priced at £1 each or 6 for £5.

The draw will take place on Monday 23rd December at 8.30pm in the social club.

Meet the players: David Anderson

Photo: Brendan Monaghan
David in action for Newry earlier in the season. Photo: Brendan Monaghan

Name: David Anderson.

Age: 22 years old.

Occupation: Sports Science student.

Previous Clubs: Midway United, Banbridge Town & Glentoran.

Honours: Represented the national team at youth level, captained Newry City Under 18s, Irish league debut for Newry City FC against Coleraine in 2011.

Position: Left back or anywhere in midfield.

Footballing Hero: Paul Scholes. (Best passer of a ball to grace the game)

What are your interests outside of football? Playing the guitar and singing a tune or two to the family dog, travelling, studying videos of Ray Byrne playing in his prime (not really).

If you could take 3 celebrities to dinner who would they be and why? Lee Evans (for sheer laughs, my favourite comedian), David Beckham (so I could eat all I want and he’d pay for the bill, and I reckon he needs all the time he can get away from that Victoria one!) and local celebrity Brendan Monaghan to take pictures of the occasion.

What is the best ground you have played in? Windsor Park.

What would you like to achieve by the time you hang up your boots? I’d like to reach as high a level in football as I possibly can. I’d also love to play well into my fiftys just like Paul Mackle, and to play for Newry AFC in the Irish Premiership.

Who is the joker of the team? Paul Mackle, wit and wisdom. Less of the latter.

Who is the best at training? Joel Annett. (when he’s not injured)

Who is the worst at training? Neil Barr and Peter Thompson cause they train holding hands. Bromance brewing!

Who has the worst dress sense? Mark Patton & Mark Lowry at training, they wear tights!

One song that gets you pumped up for a match? Avicii – Levels.

Who is the best player you have ever played with? Shane Ferguson, currently on loan to Birmingham from Newcastle United.

What one word would best describes you as a footballer? Determined.

And finally…a word for the fans? Loyal & the backbone of the club, always giving us that something extra. Onwards & upwards to where we belong!