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.”

Sports Bond agent Sammy Bones has been absent from the winners lists in the last month but Sammy came storming back this week with not one but Two Major £50 winners. One was a former £1000 Jackpot winner Ian McGall (A9662) .Last week we saw another former  £1000 winner Trevor Gillan  accomplish the same feat.The other Major winner was Jennifer Tuff (A8432) who like Ian and Sammy lives in the Commons estate. That make the Commons a Sports Bond hotspot. 

Another Sports Bond agent who had a double success was Maurice Anderson who had  double minor winners with Clifford Robinson (A9396) and Jimmy Young (A3130).This was a second win for Clifford in a month. 

The other Major winner this week was Deborah Thompson (A7059) on the agency of Janice Christie. The other Minor winner was  Thomas Millar (A9822) at the Horse n Jockey. 

No Jackpot was allocated with the numbers 2 7 14 27 and so the Jackpot for this week is £550

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. 

Birthday wishes are sent to Katrina Morgan who celebrates another Birthday on Friday and to William McComb who celebrates his birthday on Saturday. Both are members on the agency of Maurice Anderson. Also celebrating his birthday is Luke Gaston who is a member on the agency of Alex Beverland.

So far this season we had no one who had Two wins on Sports Bond. Last season Keith Turner had Three wins by this stage of the season which ensured he had a complimentary season ticket courtesy of First Score. The winning time of the First Score on Saturday  was  70 minutes and Andy Barr's goal was celebrated by Gary Mark. More so it gave Gary his second First Score win of the season. Just over a month ago Gary won at Mourneview park and picked up £50 plus a bonus of £25 which was a total of £75..Now Gary has a second win and will pick up  £100.We reckon Gary has spent £40 on First Score and has won £175.Congratulations Gary now let's go for a third win.

There were a lot of disappointed Ballymena United supporters at the Oval on Tuesday night last week but all were delighted that the winner of the First Score was Ryan Craig. Ryan attends most Ballymena United matches with his mum Louise and uncle Alan Service. Ryan had the winning time of 21 minutes and picked up £50.Nice one Ryan .Next First Score will be on Saturday against Larne 

Ballot tickets for this year New Years Draw will be in circulation soon and this year we have a Spectacular First Prize .Thanks must go to the Ballymena Spurs Supporters Club who have generously donated Two tickets for Tottenham v Crystal Palace in May 2025.The First prize also includes Flights to London so the winners will get the chance to experience one of the finest Stadiums in Europe at a London Derby. A trip to London in May what a fantastic opportunity.!

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.

The winner of the Donnelly and Taggart Autographed football was Julie Philpott On Friday accompanied by Daughter Jessica and husband Lawrie she was presented with the signed football by Tony McGurk Manager of Donnelly and Taggart Ballymena. Thanks to all who participated and to Donnelly and Taggart for their support Congratulations to the Philpott family who are big Sky Blue fans. 

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.