Portadown F.C.
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| Full name | Portadown Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The "Ports" | ||
| Founded | 1889 | ||
| Ground | Shamrock Park, Portadown, Northern Ireland | ||
| Capacity | 16,000 (seated 2,770) | ||
| Chairman | Roy McMahon | ||
| Manager | Ronnie McFall MBE | ||
| League | NIFL Premiership | ||
| 2014–15 | 4th | ||
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Portadown F.C is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the NIFL Premiership.
The club was founded in 1889 but did not join the Irish league until 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park. The club home colours are all red with white, while their away kit is white. The club's main rivals are Glentoran and Glenavon others include Linfield and NIFL Championship 1 local side Annagh United.
Since 1986 the club's manager has been Ronnie McFall.
Contents
History
In 1887 the Mid Ulster Football Association was established and in Portadown a young group of men set about creating a football club to participate in the Mid-Ulster Cup.Early meetings in the committee were held in a dimmly lit room for the Young Men's Institute in Edwards Street in Portadown.Where club secretary William Mullen would read the minutes by candlelight.Early games were played at Tavanagh and Ripleys Field on the Armagh Road and Oldthree minutes left and the scores tied at 0–0, William Kelly Johnston scored the winning goal amid scenes of wild celebration for the Ports supporters.
The team that won that historic first senior trophy was Charles Lawson, Robert Gourley, Ben Clarke, Hugh Bulloch (captain), James Hart, William Ewing, Henry Johnston, Harry Sinnamond, Alex Smyth, WK Johnston and George Cochrane (uncle of the famous Davy Cochrane.
The scenes that greeted that winning goal were nothing compared to the hysteria as the team returned to town that night. They were met by thousands of people at the railway station and toured the town in an open top coach before stopping at St. Marks Church for speeches. Chairman William Mullen led the speeches before igniting a terrific bonfire. Little did those fans know that this was to be the start of a great love affair with the Gold Cup in years to come.Shamrock Park located approximately where Clounagh Junior High School is now sited.Amongst the early names to turn out for The Ports were Val Wilson who would later become High Sheriff for County Armagh and Harry Bell, whose father owned brickworks on the Armagh Road.
It didn't take them long to put some silverware in the trophy cabinet when they won the Irish Junior Cup beating Larne at Grosvenor Park on Saturday 18 March 1899.That same season The Ports won their first ever cup double by bringing home the Mid-Ulster Cup for the first time.Portadown retained the trophy the following season and the next five seasons before the outbreak of the great war.The junior game was very strong in the town at the time and The Ports had to compete for talent with teams such as Edenderry Arrows, Greenview from Edgarstown, Portadown Celtic and Parkmount.Portadown are the only one of these clubs that remain.In 1916 the new Irish Intermediate League was formed and Portadown were selected as one of the inaugural clubs for the new competition.However they were forced to withdraw due to the large number of players who had gone of to fight in the great war.
With the return of the local men from the war the clamour for senior football was growing. One man in particular was leading the bid for the club's senior status, William A Mullen the man responsible for coining the phrase "The Hub of the North" which is used in songs by Portadown fans today, back in the late Victorian days when Portadown's extensive rail network led to all parts of Ireland. The many junior clubs in that area put aside their rivalry with The Ports to back the club's bid to join the Irish League. This was in a time of expansionism in Irish Football with the league keen to take the game beyond the boundary of Belfast. The only team who were in the league at the time were bitter rivals Glenavon. In 1923 the Irish League was expanded from six to ten clubs with the introduction of Newry Town (now Newry City), Ards and Barn. Then finally after several years of preparation, Mr Mullen together with Tom Dawson and his committee met the league chiefs in June 1924 and were able to present a strong case for joining the league. Their good work in winning friends and influencing people paid dividends and at long last Portadown became a full member club of the Irish League together with the readmittance of Belfast Celtic. The nucleus of the first teams to represent the club came from the local junior clubs who had supported the bid. Names such as Nisbet, Dinnan, Carraher, Boyd, Cochrane and Hunter.
And so it was in August 1924 Portadown played their first senior game the opponents that day were Glentoran.The first game played at Shamrock Park was against the champions Queens Island in game that finished 0–0.
Portadown had a fantastic first season in the Irish league, finishing 4th two points behind Belfast Celtic with Queens Island taking 2nd place behind champions Glentoran.Along the way The Ports had some memorable games including a 4–3 victory over Linfield at Shamrock Park and a 1–0 win against the mighty Belfast Celtic in the City Cup.
With the historic first season behind them the Ports settled well in the environment of senior football season 1925–1926 saw a continuation of their consoldiation in the league with away victories at Belfast Celtic and Linfieldthree minutes left and the scores tied at 0–0, William Kelly Johnston scored the winning goal amid scenes of wild celebration for the Ports supporters.
The team that won that historic first senior trophy was Charles Lawson, Robert Gourley, Ben Clarke, Hugh Bulloch (captain), James Hart, William Ewing, Henry Johnston, Harry Sinnamond, Alex Smyth, WK Johnston and George Cochrane (uncle of the famous Davy Cochrane.
The scenes that greeted that winning goal were nothing compared to the hysteria as the team returned to town that night. They were met by thousands of people at the railway station and toured the town in an open top coach before stopping at St. Marks Church for speeches. Chairman William Mullen led the speeches before igniting a terrific bonfire. Little did those fans know that this was to be the start of a great love affair with the Gold Cup in years to come.
Portadown's first major trophy success came in the 1933–34 season when they won the Gold Cup under manager Tommy Sloan. Their first championship success came in the 1989–90 season when they were crowned Irish League champions for the first time in their history, having come close on numerous occasions in the past. The 'Ports' then went on to have a period of continued success winning the league title a further two times within five years, including a 'double', when the Irish Cup arrived at Shamrock Park along with the league championship in 1991. They beat their County Armagh rivals Glenavon 2–1 at Windsor Park in the Irish Cup Final, with Stevie Cowan scoring both goals to take the trophy to Shamrock Park for the first time.
On 30 April 2008, Portadown, who had been a senior football club in Northern Ireland since 1924, were relegated to the Championship as a result of the club's final application form for the new IFA Premiership (due to replace the Irish Premier League for 2008–09) having been received 29 minutes late and thus not considered. The club unsuccessfully appealed its exclusion.[1] Due to the drop from Northern Ireland's top domestic football league, the IFA Premiership, Portadown were forced to take on intermediate status, due to the IFA Championship, which is Northern Ireland's second tier of football, being an intermediate league. In their first season in the Championship, the club won promotion straight back into senior football, beating their closest rivals Donegal Celtic 2–0 in the last (and decisive) match of the season. Also after beating Newry City 1–0 at Mournview Park on 28 February 2009, Portadown became the first intermediate club to win the Irish League Cup. Scotsman Gary McCutcheon scored the winning goal.
Portadown qualified to play UEFA Europa League football in the 2010–11 season on account of being runners up in the 2009–10 Irish Cup to Linfield. They defeated the Latvian side Skonto Riga 2–1 on aggregate to advance to the second qualifying round. It was their first win in European cup competition since 1974. The second qualifying round 1st leg match was played at Shamrock Park on 15 July 2010 with Richard Lecky scoring the opening goal against the Azerbaijani side FK Qarabağ, but two second half goals from the Azerbaijanis saw them take a 2–1 lead back home for the second leg on 22 July 2010. The 2nd leg in Azerbaijan ended 1–1 which was not enough for the Ports who were knocked out 3–2 on aggregate.On March 21, 2015 Portadown reached their first Irish Cup Final since 2010 by beating Ballymena 3–1 at The Oval but were beaten 1–0 by Glentoran in the a controversial final when Michael Gault was clean through on goal when he was tripped by William Garrett with nothing being given and Glentoran went up the other way and David Scullion scored to win the game.
Kevin Braniff saga
On Tuesday 12 November 2013 Braniffs lethargic attitude finally caught up with him when during a shock 4–0 loss to Ballymena despite playing poorly he reacted angrily to being subbed off.In a previous game against Warrenpoint Town Kevin questioned tactics by manager Ronnie McFall who said this to the Belfast Telegraph "Kevin's attitude has been rotten.You can see his reaction when he loses the ball throwing his arms everywhere.He has also questioned tactics and team selection.The club has stood by Kevin on a number of occasions but enough is enough.We are open to all offers,we just want rid of him.Kevin Braniff s counter argument was "I feel I have been singled out by the manager since the Warrenpoint town game at Dungannon.We changed tactics that day and went long ball."After the Glenavon match we had an argument in the changing room and from when I started asking questions about our tactics it seems everything has been my fault." "I love it at Portadown and love playing for the club and the fans but I do not see a future with Ronnie Mcfall as the manager. Kevin eventually decided to go to Australia to go on trial at Melbourne Victory and played for Melbourne Sharks and then Braniff came home to sign for the ports bitter rivals Glenavon must to the dismay and anger of Portadown who had now lost all respect for the player and began to hate him.
The Ronnie McFall era
Since 11 December 1986, the club's current manager has been Ronnie McFall. He signed another in five-year contract in 2009 and signed a one-year deal in August 2014. He was born and raised in Portadown and played left-back for the club during the 1960s and 1970s. He has also played for Dundee United of Scotland, and afterwards Ards and Glentoran where he began his managerial career. Ronnie McFall is the longest serving manager in European football surpassing Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. McFall is also one of the most successful managers in Irish league football
Problems
Portadown's support are very rarely hostile but in the Iron-Bru league cup Quarter-Final Versus fierce rivals Glentoran a Fire work was thrown towards the Glentoran bench from the away end at the Oval injuring team members.The supporter was banned for life by the club.
In 1999 a social club outside the stadium was the scene of a violent incident in which members from the Loyalist Volunteer Force, some of whom were out on Christmas parole, were attacked by members of the rival Ulster Volunteer Force,[2] beginning a violent feud that resulted in multiple deaths.[2][3]
In 2007 there was an incident at The Oval when rival Portadown and Glentoran fans clashed in the streets outside the ground and missiles were thrown and cars damaged. The club management condemned the incident.[4] Portadown have signed up to the UEFA 10 point plan on racism. along with the eleven other NIFL Premiership clubs.
European Record
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| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Cup Winners Cup | R1 |  OFK Belgrade |
3–2 | 1–5 | 4–7 |
| 1974–75 | UEFA Cup | R1 |  Valur |
2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| R2 | Partizan Belgrade |
1–1 | 0–5 | 1–6 | ||
| 1990–91 | European Cup | R1 |  F.C. Porto |
1–8 | 0–5 | 1–13 |
| 1991–92 | European Cup | R1 | Red Star Belgrade |
0–4 | 0–4 | 0–8 |
| 1992–93 | UEFA Cup | R1 |  Standard Liège |
0–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 |
| 1994–95 | UEFA Cup | PR |  ŠK Slovan Bratislava |
0–2 | 0–3 | 0–5 |
| 1996–97 | UEFA Cup | PR |  FK Vojvodina |
0–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 |
| 1999–00 | UEFA Cup | QR |  CSKA Sofia |
0–3 | 0–5 | 0–8 |
| 2002–03 | UEFA Champions League | QR1 |  FC Belshina Bobruisk |
0–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 |
| 2003–04 | UEFA Cup | QR |  Malmö FF |
0–2 | 0–4 | 0–6 |
| 2004–05 | UEFA Cup | QR1 |  FK Žalgiris Vilnius |
2–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 |
| 2005–06 | UEFA Cup | QR1 |  Viking FK |
1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 |
| 2006–07 | UEFA Cup | QR1 | FBK Kaunas |
1–3 | 0–1 | 1–4 |
| 2010–11 | UEFA Europa League | QR1 |  Skonto Riga |
1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| QR2 |  Qarabağ FK |
1–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | ||
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | QR1 |  FK Shkëndija |
2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| QR2 |  NK Slaven Belupo |
2–4 | 0–6 | 2–10 |
By competition
| Competition | P | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Cup / UEFA Champions League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 24 |
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 28 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 16 | 62 |
| Total | 36 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 23 | 93 |
Last updated on 26 July 2012
Honours
Senior honours
- Irish League: 4
- Irish Cup: 3
- Irish League Cup: 2
- Gold Cup: 6
- 1933–34, 1937–38, 1952–53, 1971–72, 1978–79, 1992–93
- Ulster Cup: 3
- 1990–91, 1995–96, 2004–2005
- Floodlit Cup: 3
- 1990–91, 1992–93, 1994–95
- Budweiser Cup: 3
- 1990–1991, 1992–1993, 1993–1994
- Texaco (All-Ireland) Cup: 1
- 1973–74
- Tyler Cup: 1
- 1977–78
- Mid-Ulster Cup: 21
- 1898–99, 1899–00, 1902–03, 1905–06, 1907–08, 1909–10, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1960–61†, 1962–63†, 1964–65†, 1969–70†, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03
- Charity Shield: 1
- 1999
- Royal Mail Community Action Cup: 2
- 2003–2004, 2004–2005
- Ivan Marshall Cup:1
- 2004–2005
- City Cup:1
- 1938–1939
† Won by Portadown Reserves
Intermediate honours
- IFA Championship: 1
- George Wilson Cup: 1
- 1996–97†
- Bob Radcliffe Cup: 2
- 1982–83†, 1983–84†
† Won by Portadown Reserves
Junior honours
- Irish Junior Cup: 1
- 1898–99
- Harry Cavan Youth Cup:2
- 1992–1993
- 2013–2014
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club Officials
- Manager: Ronnie McFall MBE
- Assistant Manager: Kieran Harding
- First team coach: Trevor Williamson
- Physiotherapist: Pat McGibbon
- President: Noel Dalzell
- Directors: Roy McMahon
- David Jameson
- Cyril Connolly
- Ronnie Stinson
- Trevor Marshall
- Club Secretary: Bill Emerson
- Legal Secretary: Lewis Singleton
- Treasurer: Trevor Marshall
- Media Officer: Trevor Clydesdale
- Groundsman: Walter McElroy
- Health & Safety Officer: Ronnie Thompson
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