Wakehurst F.C.

Wakehurst
Full name Wakehurst Football Club
Nickname(s) The 'Hurst
Founded 1969
Ground Mill Meadow
Castledawson
Manager Douglas Stevenson
League Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League
NIFL Championship 2, 14th (relegated)

Wakehurst Football Club are a Northern Irish football who, as of 2017, do not compete in any division. The club, founded in 1969, hails from Ballymena, although home matches are played at Moyola Park's ground at Mill Meadow. Wakehurst formerly played at the second pitch at the Ballymena Showgrounds, home of Ballymena United, but for 2009–10 this pitch was deemed not to meet the criteria for the Championship, and home games were played at the ground of Tobermore United in Tobermore, County Londonderry, for that season; Wakehurst moved to Castledawson for 2010–11.[1][2] It is the club's intention eventually to return to Ballymena.[3] In 2016, the club was relegated from the Northern Ireland Football League and spent a season in the Ballymena & Provincial Football League before announcing their withdrawal from the competition.

Club colours are black, and white (home) and blue (away).

The club is currently managed by former captain, Douglas Stevenson, ex-boss Ian Gregg and former reserve team manager Jason Connolly following Clifford Adams' departure to Ballyclare Comrades in March 2017.

The club's reserve side – Wakehurst Strollers – play in Division Two of the Ballymena and Provincial League and are managed by player / manager Jason Connolly.

The club returned to the Ballymena & Provincial League for the 2016–17 season and were joined by fellow Championship 2 drop outs, Glebe Rangers and Coagh United. At the end of the season they announced their withdrawal from football although indicated that it would be a one year hiatus rather than permanent.[4]

The club played at junior level in the Ballymena & District League and Northern Amateur League until stepping up to intermediate football in 2003.[5][6]

Players

Current First Team Squad

As of

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
Northern Ireland GK Greg Shannon
Northern Ireland GK Andy Findlay
Northern Ireland GK Dean Adams
Northern Ireland DF Kyle Crawford
Northern Ireland DF Kurtis McCartney
Northern Ireland DF Peter McClure
Northern Ireland DF Andrew Millar
Northern Ireland DF Corey Price
Northern Ireland DF Anthony Shaw
Northern Ireland DF Niall Swann
No. Position Player
Northern Ireland DF Conor Ross
Northern Ireland MF Ryan Bamber
Northern Ireland MF Andrew Laughlin
Northern Ireland MF Nicky Black
Northern Ireland MF David McLaughlin
Northern Ireland MF Steven Mellon
Northern Ireland MF David Johnston
Northern Ireland MF Aaran Weir
Northern Ireland FW Stewart Nixon
Northern Ireland FW Zach Barr

Honours

Junior honours

  • County Antrim Junior Shield: 1
    • 1989–90

References

  1. ↑ Ballymena Times, Wakehurst forced to play outside Ballymena next season, 15-05-2009
  2. ↑ Homeless Wakehurst need to find a speedy resolution, The Park, p.13, Belfast Telegraph, 30 August 2010
  3. ↑ Wakehurst FC appeal for Council help to end three-year ‘exile’ from Ballymena
  4. ↑ Official Statement
  5. ↑ H. Johnstone & G. Hamilton (n.d.) A Memorable Milestone: 75 Years of the Northern Amateur Football League, p. 219
  6. ↑ "Waking up to Wakehurst", NI Football, Issue 13 (2009), p. 24


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