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.
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!
We are delighted to announce that the playing and coaching staff of Newry City AFC have raised £800 for Barry Trainor’s ‘Friends of Africa’ charity. The players and coaches raised the money by taking part in ‘Octobeard’, which required them to go unshaven for the month of October.
Barry is a former youth coach with the club and has been doing great work with the charity over the past six years.
Senior team manager Darren Mullen was only too happy to help out Barry and his charity. Darren said: “I’m sure some wives and girlfriends were glad to see the end of the month. This money will be put to great use by Barry who does tremendous work in his voluntary role and we are glad to have helped him with his worthy cause.”
Barry was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Newry lads. He said: “I’d like to thank the Newry management and players for their amazing effort in raising money for African orphans by growing beards for the entire month of October. The money will be used to buy food, medicine and clothes for hundreds of children living on the streets in the City of Kitwe, Zambia.”
“The spirit and camaraderie of this Newry team extends far beyond the football pitch because they’ve helped to give a lot of children the chance of a better life. Thanks so much to Darren, his coaching staff and players for their amazing generosity.”
However, Barry’s fundraising doesn’t stop here and donations are always welcome. If you would like to contribute, you can do so by contacting Barry on 0752 5652 537.
Name: Brian Ferris.
Age: 62 years old.
How long have you supported Newry? The first ever game I was at was when I was seven, but I’ve been following the club seriously about 40 years now.
How did you come about supporting the club? My Father and Billy Cartmill started taking me to games.
Your favourite ever player? The genius that is Ollie Ralph.
Favourite current player? Chris McMahon.
Best memory supporting the club? Winning the Co. Antrim Shield.
Funniest moment supporting the club? Getting told to get down off a tin roof over the tannoy at the Showgrounds, a long time ago.
Favourite ground you’ve visited and why? Ferney Park, Ballinamallard. Always nice and friendly.
How many games have you been to this season? All so far except for away to Coleraine Reserves.
What is it you like most about following Newry? All the friends I’ve made at the Club, plus knowing it is 100% cross community.
Hopes for the future? Promotion back to where we belong, the Premiership.
Newry City AFC gained revenge on Hanover for an early season cup defeat with a league victory at a frozen Showgrounds on Friday night. On a pitch which had a heavy frost covering for the full ninety minutes Newry delivered their 10th clean sheet of the season from 17 competitive fixtures and scored 2 second half goals to secure the win which puts them 6 points clear at the top of the table.
On a slippery bobbly surface goal chances were hard to come by in the first half, Newry having to wait until the 15th minute for their first strike at goal when right back Niall Crilly ventured forward linking first with Graeme Edgar and then with centre forward Mark Patton before firing in a goal bound shot which was deflected over for a corner. This was soon followed by a double chance for the home team. Edgar challenged bravely for an aerial ball on the edge of the Hanover box attacking the ball with his head whilst the defender went with a high boot for which referee McCacken, who had a largely flawless game, awarded a Newry free kick. Up stepped Chris McMahon to place a shot destined for the top left hand corner of the Hanover net only for Matthew Short to dive full length to palm the ball out, the rebound falling to the head of Patton who did well to react only for his effort to sail narrowly over the Hanover crossbar. Evidenced by 10 clean sheets Newry defensively are on the top of their game at the moment and on 25 minutes when a dangerous ball was launched into the back post of the Newry penalty area Crilly was composed enough to take possession of the ball and pass his way out of trouble even though surrounded by a number of Hanover forwards.
Crilly was again involved in the final home chance of the half on 40 minutes when he received a throw out from keeper Peter Murphy before finding the feet of Patton half way inside the Hanover half. Patton spun round the defender and took the ball to the by line before drilling in a low cross ball which Shane Lundy latched onto only to be beaten by the surface, slipping as he shot which took all the pace and direction from his effort. The final opportunity of the half fell to Hanover. On the stroke of half time a long kick out was nodded into the path of Steven Woods and when it looked as though he had a clear sight of goal in came Conor McCaul with a burst of speed to make up vital ground which allowed him to block Wood’s shot with a perfectly judged sliding tackle to keep the game scoreless at half time.
The introduction of Jimmy Walker into the Newry midfield shortly after half time proved to be the turning point of the game. Blessed with sublime skill Walker’s close control and vision was just what the home side needed and he was immediately involved spraying a pass wide to Lundy on the left, his cross deflecting around the box before falling to McMahon who’s volley was blocked at close range by the arm of a Hanover defender, referee McCaughey waving away the Newry appeals for a penalty.
Newry’s domination of play was rewarded on the hour mark with a move which was started by Murphy in the home goal. With passing ability as good as any outfield player Murphy received a back pass and dummied the Hanover forward feigning to pass to his left before switching back to his right foot to release Crilly who now had space to exploit. This he did before finding Mark Lowry midway inside the Hanover half. Lowry cut infield, then played a reverse pass to McMahon wide on Newrys right. McMahon beat the defender and took the ball to the end line before pulling a cross back to the edge of the six yard box where it was met by Lowry who smashed his shot to the back of the Hanover net.
Now firmly on top Newry soon doubled their advantage. Patton won another high ball which he controlled before feeding Walker. Walker played a first time pass to Lundy wide on the left wing, Lundy took the ball past his defender before returning a crossed ball from the end line to Walker who placed his shot to the Hanover net to put Newry 2-0 up.
Hanover refused to lie down and brought Dean Bunting into their attack, his lively play keeping the Newry defence on their toes.
In a move to close out the game Newry introduced the experienced Paul McElroy into a midfield position and it was McElroy who instigated the next chance when he played the ball wide to Lundy. Lundy, who was a threat to Hanover for the entire 90 minutes, again beat the Hanover defender before firing in a low cross which was just out of the reach of the in rushing McMahon.
Newry had a glorious chance to wrap the game up with minutes left when Man of the Match Niall Crilly whipped in a free kick from yards inside the Hanover half which Patton rose highest to win, his glancing header narrowly going the wrong side of the post.
In a game played on a difficult pitch, for which the Hanover committee were keen to praise Newry City AFC for hosting a game which was originally scheduled for Portadown, referee William McCacken and both teams are to be commended on providing an evening’s entertainment for a sizeable crowd on a bitterly cold night.
Newry City AFC 1.Murphy 2.Crilly 3.Anderson 4.Annett 5.McCaul 6.Edgar 7.McMahon © 8.Curran (Walker) 9.Patton 10.Lowry (McElroy) 11.Lundy (Barr) Substitutes 12. Walker 14.Campbell 15.Thompson 16.McElroy 17.Barr 18.McVicker
Hanover 1.Short 2.Scott 3.JasonWoods 4.McKinney 5.Crowe 6.Topley 7.Elliot 8.McCullough 9.lappin 10.Sargent 11.Steven Woods Substitutes 12.Douglas 14.Hynds 15.Harrison 16.Bunting 17. Green
