Ballymena United Football CLUB NEWS

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Corporate Lunch Dates 2024/25

The ever popular corporate lunches are back with 3 dates for the 24/25 season!

Get in touch to secure your table in what’s always a superb day out at the Showgrounds!

The two remaining Corporate Dinners are;

(SOLD OUT) BUFC v Dungannon Swifts on Saturday 14th December 2024 at 12.30pm

BUFC v Portadown Saturday 22nd February 2025 at 12.30pm

Min of 8 per table - £400

£50 per additional person up to 10

Contact Alan Francey - 07402 521070

Ballymena United FC is thrilled to announce that we have reached an agreement for Patrick McEleney to join the Sky Blues at the start of the January transfer window from Derry City. With experience in both England and the League of Ireland, Patrick brings immense quality and a wealth of experience to our squad.Manager Jim Ervin commented: “Signing a player of Patrick’s calibre is an incredible boost for the club. He is a top-class footballer, widely respected across the game. His experience and winning mentality will be invaluable as we continue our exciting project. I want to extend my thanks to everyone involved in making this transfer possible.”

Mark Patterson (A9610) is from Glengormely  and grew up supporting Ballymena United with his father Billy. Mark and his friends are behind the Newtownabbey Sky Blue banner often seen at football grounds throughout the country. This week saw Mark win a £50 Major prize on Sports Bond which was his first ever win,he is a member  on the agency of PatriciaThompson.Congratulations to Mark and thanks to those from Newtownabbey who follow the Sky Blues.

In Broughshane Sports Bond agent Sammy Bones had a £50 winner with his brother in law Niall Hall (A9937).Niall is a massive Darts Fan and this is his ssecond win on Sports Bond having previously been a £10 Minor winner. 

Back in Ballymena a £50 Major win for Tommy McKendry (A2371) who is a long standing member who pays by Standing order.

In the Minor section there was another standing order winner Janette Forsyth (A5609) from Cloughmills. Another win for George Esler (A2457) of Grant Avenue in Randalstown on the agency of Alastair Shaw. The remaining minor winner was Annie McMullan (A1133) again on the agency of Patricia Thompson. 

A healthy Jackpot of £700 awaits someone this week as last week's Jackpot was not won with the numbers 6 10 11 12.Join Sports Bond now on 07831 803970 

Question? What makes a good Sports Bond agent. Being a dyed in the wool Ballymena United supporter certainly helps.On the requisite then Robbie Purdey meets the criteria. For years the Purdey family of Robbie ,Curtis and Caitlin have followed the Sky Blues all over the country. Now Robbie ha joined Sports Bond as our latest agent and Curtis and Caitlin have become members on his agency. Thanks Robbie for becoming an agent and we hope you have many winners. 

Two Members on Maurice Anderson's agency have birthdays this week. Mary Galbraith will be celebrating her birthday on Monday as will be Sykes Anderson ,one of our doggy members. 

A First Score is in Circulation for the Scottish league cup final between Celtic and Rangers. Scratchcards are sold from Sports Bond agents and  will be on sale at the match with Dungannon on Saturday. There will be as normal a First Score for Ballymena United v Dungannon. 

Tickets are well into circulation and will be on sale at the Tower centre on Friday and at the match with Dungannon on Saturday. A trip to London to see Spurs play Crystal Palace in May is the fabulous First prize .There's a second prize of £100 sponsored by Sports Bond with a bonus of £50 if won by a Sports Bond member. Third prize is a Meal for Two people sponsored by the Castle Kitchen and Bar at Galgorm. Tickets are priced at £1

There are a few players who are available for Sponsorship. Please contact Gary McConnell on 07730 06 48 46 for details and benefits.

This week sees the launch of the Club Calendar for 2925.There are more photos of Players than ever reflecting the enlarged Squad.There are also pages given over to The Ladies,  Youth Academy and Disability teams.There are also photos of Mascots ,Sponsors, First Score winers Corporate dinner guests

and Supporters. Maybe there is one of you?

The Calendar will be on sale from Friday at 19 AM  in The Tower centre. Brian Thompson will be on hand for Calendars.New years draw tickets and Ballymena United products.
The Calendar will be priced at £7 or £12 for 2 and Sports Bond members can purchase at £5 
A Massive thanks to all who have advertised in the Calendar and to Alan Kirk of Ark Media for photos and to Jim Kelso for Photos as well Thanks to Ballyprint for their professional help in the production of another great Calendar 
To reserve your Calendars contact Brian Thompson on 07831 803970.

Ballymena United FC would like to acknowledge the successful outcome of Loughgall FC’s recent appeals against The Northern Ireland Football League on 2 decisions relating to Sunday Football. 

We supported our colleagues at Loughgall during the process and had been invited to attend the appeal as guests of Loughgall but this was denied. 

As a club we missed the appeals cut off point but signed a participation agreement with a caveat that we did not waive our right to non participation in Sunday Football. We fully supported Loughgalls stance that clubs should be free to enter the NIFL league cup without waiving their rights to non participation in Sunday Football and that they should also not be penalised financially for non participation in Sunday Football. 

We will continue to oppose Sunday football on the basis of the religious beliefs of the players, staff and supporters of Ballymena United FC and also the mental and physical health of our players, staff and volunteers involved in the day to day workings of our club. 

Sunday football will deny a club operating on a part time basis the opportunity to have a rest day of which we should all be entitled. 

It’s been well documented and spoken about in local football circles that volunteers are the lifeblood of the majority of clubs. Asking them to now be available for Sunday football matches puts a lot of volunteers and therefore the clubs under undue pressure. As we’ve mentioned, we place the health and wellbeing of our club stakeholders at the top of our priority list and for that and the others reasons outlined we will continue to oppose Sunday football.