Ballymena United F.C.

History

Foundation and the War (1934–1946)

Following the demise of Ballymena Football Club at the end of the 1933–34 season, a number of locals set about forming a new club in Ballymena with a view to seeking admission to the Irish League as Ballymena's replacement. Crusaders were also applicants for the vacancy, but at the league's annual general meeting on 20 June 1934, the new club known as Ballymena United was chosen unanimously.

The new club took appointed a manager - which was a departure from the previous practice of team selection by committee. The club's first manager, Joe Millar, had arrived from Bournemouth & Boscombe and had previously been capped for Ireland. He used his contacts in Scotland to bring a number of Scottish players to the Showgrounds. However, despite these new players and an Irish Cup semi-final appearance, United suffered in their first season finishing tenth in the league. The 1934–35 season also saw the introduction of the reserve side.

In the 1935–36 season, the club finished tenth in the league table and failed to progress in the majority of the cup competitions. Ahead of the 1936–37 season, Jock McNinch left for Sligo Rovers. McNinch left the club after 315 games and was the last remaining link to the 'old' Ballymena side. During the summer, his contribution to the club was recognised when the club granted him a testimonial, the first such gesture by United.

Ballymena United finished bottom of the Irish League for the first time, after managing only four league wins over the course of the season. An Irish Cup run to the semi-final stage, before elimination to Belfast Celtic was the only cheer for the club. They carried this poor form into the following season when they suffered a record defeat to Derry City (1–9) and lost the next six games before the board appointed Steve Mitchell as player-manager. Mitchell turned things around as Ballymena won 14 of their next 17 games. Despite their championship form, they rose from bottom to fifth in the table, 8 points behind eventual winners Belfast Celtic. The club also made their first appearance in the final of the County Antrim Shield though lost 3–2 to Linfield.

This run of confidence ran all the way through to the following season, as Ballymena United nearly completed a double of the Irish League and Irish Cup – eventually finishing runners-up in both competitions. Finishing five points behind Belfast Celtic in the league race and a fourth Irish Cup final saw a third defeat to Linfield in the final, this time a 2–0 defeat at Solitude. However, one year on, Ballymena United went one better by lifting the 1940 Irish Cup after a 2–0 win over Glenavon. This was the last 'proper' Irish Cup before province wide football was suspended due to World War II. United did not play again until the 1946–47 season. The club withdrew from the Irish League shortly after the end of the season when the Showgrounds was taken over to assist the war effort.

Post-war United (1946–1957)

Even though World War II ended in time for the commencement of the 1945–46 season, it was not until the following term that Ballymena United made their comeback into the Irish League. Home friendlies early in 1946 were arranged against Belfast Celtic and Linfield but both were cancelled because the Showgrounds complex was not ready following the removal of the troops who were stationed there.

A new manager, Billy Reid, was appointed on 1 May but only lasted until late October, resigning after citing he could not devote enough time to the job and control of team affairs went back to committee. United made a comeback on 17 August 1946 with a 2–1 home victory in the Gold Cup against Distillery. The Braidmen joined the Irish Regional League in its final season before the return of the Irish League the following season and finished sixth. The Sky Blues did suffer their heaviest ever defeat during the Regional League campaign, losing 10–1 to Belfast Celtic. Ballymena United began the 1947–48 season with a new manager, Bob McKay, who was promoted from his role last season as chief scout and had previously been in charge of Dundee United. McKay guided Ballymena United to third place in the Irish League. Despite a first round exit to Linfield in the Irish Cup, the game attracted a record crowd of 9,067 which afterwards saw the transfer of Frankie Houghton to Newcastle United for £6,000 – which was quite a considerable sum back then.

April 1948 saw United play their first competitive game outside Northern Ireland when they travelled to Dublin to play Shelbourne in the Inter-City Cup, a game which Ballymena lost 1–0 but progressed to the quarterfinals after winning the first leg 4–1 – this set up a clash with Shamrock Rovers who won the tie 8–3 on aggregate. The season did not end trophyless as a 2–1 victory over Linfield in May 1948 brought the County Antrim Shield to the Ballymena Showgrounds for the first time in the club's history – that game saw the competitive debut of Eric Trevorrow, a 20-year-old signing from Glasgow junior club, Parkhead Juniors.

The following season began with some optimism after the success of the previous campaign. However, Ballymena finished tenth in the Irish League and failed to make headway in any of the cup competitions. This ultimately cost Bob McKay his job in May 1949 during an AGM in which McKay berated the board for interference with his team selections. Norman Kernaghan took over as player-manager and after a moderate first season he finished his second campaign as Irish Cup finalists and County Antrim Shield winners in 1950–51 – beating Cliftonville in the final.

New beginning (1957–1969)

In 1957, Scottish born Alex McCrae took over as player-manager of Ballymena United – he had been an inside-forward for Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough in his playing days. He brought instant success to the Braid, as Ballymena finished third and won the Irish Cup in 1957–58. The 1958 Irish Cup winning team beat Jackie Milburn's Linfield in the final – with McGhee and Russell scoring the goals in a 2–0 win at the Oval in front of 24,000 spectators.

The next year the team also reached the Irish Cup final (their eighth final); the Sky Blues were expected to beat Glenavon in a Windsor Park final. However, United failed to beat Glenavon, only drawing 1–1 and were defeated 2–0 in the replay.

The former Liverpool player, Geoff Twentyman, then came along as manager and brought the Ulster Cup to the Showgrounds in 1960 with a 3–1 win over Glenavon. Barr grabbed two final goals while McKinstry picked up the other. The following season, the Sky Blues were only two points away from winning the Irish League for the first time – finishing third in 1961–62.

Twentyman's success did not continue, and he was replaced in time by George Smith, Dave Hickson, Alex Parker, and Dave Hickson again. However, manager after manager failed, as the Braidmen constantly finished mid-table in the Irish League, with only one trophy in the 1960s. McCrae was then brought back to end another period of failure at the Warden Street Showgrounds.

Rollercoaster seventies (1970–1978)

The club reached an Irish Cup Final in 1970, which United lost 2–1 to Linfield at Solitude. This was Linfield's last game at Solitude for over a quarter of a century, due to civil unrest. It was also the first Irish Cup Final with substitutes – Nicholl filled that role for United.

Next came a "colourful" time in United's history as Scottish-born Sammy Frickelton appeared at the Showgrounds to the delight of many fans.

Teenage goalkeeper Jim Platt was transferred to Middlesbrough (where he won 21 caps for Northern Ireland) for £7,000 and Ballymena Council purchased the Showgrounds. United was now under the charge of Arthur Stewart (as McCrae mysteriously resigned after a board member complained about his wages) as player/manager. United were involved in the incident which led to Derry City's expulsion from the Irish League as their bus was burnt on a visit to the Brandywell during the height of the troubles in the province.

On the field Jimmy Martin was a key player as his goals brought United's best performance in the Texaco Cup – where the Sky Blues lost to Scottish side Airdieonians at the semi-final stage 1972, who went on to lose to Derby County in the final. United picked up the City Cup in 1971 for the only time in their history; Bobby Averill scored the goal as the Sky Blues picked up a long overdue trophy against Ards at the Oval.f

In 1974 that same club beat United in the Irish Cup Final at Windsor Park. John Sloan scored but Ards ran out 2–1 winners. However, United won the Gold Cup – beating Glentoran 3–2 with Quentin McFall, Dessie Orr and Jimmy Brown scoring for the Sky Blues for the first and only time in the competition's history.

United then lost the final of the Gold Cup to Coleraine the subsequent year and Arthur Stewart was dismissed. A former from the 1958 side, Eddie Russell, became player-manager and scored as United won the County Antrim Shield for the first time in 25 years – beating Distillery 4–0 at Inver Park. After the burning of the stand and by social club members of the travelling community, the Showgrounds underwent major work and the side was unable to play at the main pitch until the next season. On the pitch too United experienced more problems – going 13 matches without victory at one stage. Russell was sacked as a result of the team's poor performances and in came Billy Johnston.

Glory years (1979–1989)

During the 1978–79 season,Johnston made way for the arrival of Alan Campbell and he moulded one of the best United teams of recent years, "who would constantly challenge for honours and even came second in the Irish League in 1979–80". This meant qualification for the UEFA Cup for the first time and a first (and only) win in Europe against GDR club FC Vorwärts Frankfurt (Oder), losing in the second leg.

On route to an early season cup game against Ards, manager Alan Campbell was involved in a car accident which meant that his managerial duties passed to his assistant, Ivan Murray, on a caretaker basis as Campbell recovered from his accident.

The following season saw United finish third and lift both the Irish Cup and the County Antrim Shield in the one campaign. The Irish Cup win over Glenavon was by a single Paul Malone strike at Windsor Park. Former Northern Ireland manager, Nigel Worthington was transferred to Notts County for a club record £125,000 fee after the Irish Cup win; United had also lost the midfielder Gerry Mullan to Everton earlier in the season. The reward for the cup win was a Cup Winners' Cup tie against Italian giants AS Roma - which resulted in a 6–0 aggregate loss.

Ivan Murray took over from Alan Campbell who resigned in January 1982, but failed to reproduce the team's best form and was duly dismissed to be replaced by former Crusaders boss Ian Russell – who many thought would definitely bring success back to Warden Street.

Russell failed to take the Sky Blues to the next level, despite bringing Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jim Platt back home and also saw George Best turn out for the Sky Blues in a friendly against Scottish side Motherwell. Russell only lasted six months at the Showgrounds before being sacked by the board.

After Ian Russell's departure, it was Jim Platt who took over as player-manager at the Showgrounds and United, inspired by Sion Mills teenager Johnny Speak, defeated Carrick Rangers in the Irish Cup Final in 1984. However, after becoming the first United player to win a full International cap since 1933, he left to take up the managers role at rivals Coleraine.

Nineteen-nineties (1990–1999)

In the early 1990s, Hagan he was replaced as manager by former Glentoran-boss Tommy Jackson. After a poor initial season, Jackson lasted only a few months into the following campaign before he was removed by the club board in October 1994. Jackson was replaced, in October 1994, by local man Gary Erwin. Despite a win against Linfield, Erwin failed to gain promotion for the club and was removed in March 1995. Alan Fraser was brought in at the end of the 1994–95 season, in order to prepare for the forthcoming First Division campaign. Despite some investments, Ballymena United finished the following season well behind the league leaders, Coleraine.

In the 1996–97 season, a league championship title was brought to the Ballymena Showgrounds for the first time when Alan Fraser's side won the First Division. This also ensured promotion to the top-flight after two seasons in the First Division. Fraser's side were also close to a 'double' when they lost the final of the County Antrim Shield to Cliftonville on penalties after being on top for most of the game. The season ended with a testimonial match to Dessie Loughery at the Showgrounds, in which United defeated Coleraine by 5 goals to 1.

In their first season in the Premier League in 1997–98, Ballymena United looked to be possible title challengers and were top of the table at Christmas time. This followed a 4–3 victory over reigning Champions Crusaders – which also meant one of the biggest crowds in years at Warden Street for the Boxing Day derby against Coleraine; with a crowd of approximately 7,000 at the Showgrounds. This initial form, however, did not continue. While a club record fee of £20,000 was paid for Crusaders striker Glenn Hunter, the goals never came and the in-form Barry Patton also saw his goals dry up as Ballymena finished sixth in the table – missing out on a top half finish on goal difference. The season almost ended in a trophy as they reached the final of the Irish News Cup, a cross-border cup competition for clubs in the North-West – but lost out to Omagh Town over two legs.

Fraser's aging side failed to push on the following season and the money was beginning to dry up restricting suitable replacements being brought in. Failure again to break into the top half of the Premier League table in 1999 was offset by a disappointing non-performance in the Irish Cup semi-final against Portadown, which turned out to be 'final' as Portadown lifted the Irish Cup by default following Cliftonville's dismissal for fielding an ineligible player. Alan Fraser was relieved of his duties for failing to meet the expectations of the United board just hours after the final League game of the season, which also proved to be long-serving Dessie Loughery's last game as he made a move to Coleraine after 11 years at the Braid. Shay Hamill took charge for the final of the Irish News Cup, but for the second consecutive season Ballymena lost the final this time to Johnny Speak's Finn Harps. The search began for a new manager at Warden Street.

The wait goes on (2000–2011)

Fraser's replacement and the man set to lead Ballymena United into the new century was former Glenavon and Bangor manager, Nigel Best who was appointed in May 1999. However, with his predecessor's aging side starting to break up and with little money to finance replacements, Best's team struggled badly during the 1999–00 campaign. Goals from striker Glenn Hunter helped keep the Sky Blues in the division as United avoided relegation on the final day of the season after defeating Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Despite an encouraging start to the 2000–01 season, United's frailties caught up with them and Nigel Best was sacked after a run of results in December 2000, cumulating with a 5–2 defeat to Newry Town. The club appointed club physiotherapist George Magill as caretaker-manager until a suitable successor to Best could be found. Glenn Hunter, who had taken time out of the game to pursue a fire-fighting career, acted as Magill's assistant. In January 2001, former Coleraine manager Kenny Shiels took the reins of the Showgrounds side with the aim of keeping the club in the Premier League. Ballymena were relegated to the First Division after failing to defeat Portadown at home.

It proved a season of rebuilding in the second-tier of Irish League football as Shiels made a number of 'big-name' signings which all flopped before the eyes of the supporters; former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Tommy Wright, former Leeds United defender Paul Beesley and Liberian striker Leon Browne all failed miserably to make an impact at the Braid. This left Shiels with a number of inexperienced teenagers fighting his cause, however despite their efforts, slumped to a fifth-place finish during the 2001–02 season – Ballymena United's lowest ever placing in their history.

Despite the previous season's disappointment, Shiels' side bounced back the following season. In a season that followed the completion of a new 2,000 seated stand at the Showgrounds, the club finished the season with little to show as they finished runners-up in the Ulster Cup, County Antrim Shield and First Division. The league campaign was particularly sickening for Ballymena fans as they were leading the table for many weeks, only to capitulate to Dungannon Swifts during the final run-in. Media attention also circled around striker Shea Campbell who scored 38 goals and a Northern Ireland Under-21 cap as he was linked with moves "across the water" and also in the Irish League before committing himself to Ballymena.

Glenn Ferguson era (2011–2016)

Following Walker's sacking in 2011, United asked permission from Lisburn Distillery to speak to their first team coach Glenn Ferguson and they appointed him in June 2011. During Ferguson's tenure, they won the County Antrim Shield and reached the 2014 Irish Cup final before losing to Glenavon by 2–1. The following year, United reached the semi-final of the Irish Cup before being defeated 3–1 by Portadown at The Oval. At the start of the 2015–16 season, United lost to promoted side Carrick Rangers, lost 1–7 to Glenavon and were also beaten by rivals Coleraine. Ferguson was sacked in 2016 following a run of five defeats in the Premiership.

David Jeffrey era (2016–2023)

Following the sacking, the club appointed former Linfield manager and player David Jeffrey as Ballymena's new manager. His debut as manager was a 0–0 draw with Crusaders in March 2016. The team won a series of games before going on a losing run, failing to enter the Europa League Play-Offs following a 0–2 defeat to relegation-threatened Portadown. The following season, the team spent a lot of time in the top six and reached the League Cup final against Carrick Rangers after beating rivals Coleraine 3–0.

They won the league cup against Carrick Rangers. In the 2017/18 season, the club finished in sixth place and lost out on a Europa League spot to Cliftonilee in the NIFL play-off system. Following a squad revamp of nine players coming through the doors in the summer transfer window, in the following season the club reached the league cup final and finished second in the league. Between October and December 2018 they had a 19-game unbeaten run.

In June 2019, Ballymena defeated Faroese team NSI Runavik 2-0 at the Showgrounds and progressed to the next round after an scoreless draw in the second leg of the fixture the following week. In July 2019, in the Europa League first qualifying round Ballymena suffered an 11-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Malmö FF.

Jeffrey and assistant Brian McLaughlin departed the club in the summer of 2023, following a poor season in which United finished a distant 9th, and lost in the Irish Cup final to Crusaders.

Jim Ervin era (2023-2025)

The club appointed former captain Jim Ervin as Jeffrey's replacement in May 2023. Ervin was faced with a reduced budget on account of missing European football in the past two seasons, with players such as David McDaid and Craig Farquhar departing the club. In April 2025, Ervin signed a new contract until 2028, but he was sacked later the same year after a run of poor results.

European record

UEFA ranking

As of 5 July 2024

Players

First team squad

As of 4 August 2026

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

Non-playing staff

Coaching staff

First Team Manager: Oran Kearney

First Team Assistant Manager: Barry Johnson

First Team Goalkeeping Coach: Michael Doherty

Managerial history

Source:

Honours

Senior honours

Irish Cup: 5

1939–40, 1957–58, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1988–89

Northern Ireland Football League Cup: 1

2016–17

City Cup: 1

1971–72

Gold Cup: 1

1974–75

Ulster Cup: 3

1951–52*, 1960–61, 1980–81

Irish League First Division: 1

1996–97

County Antrim Shield: 6

1947–48, 1950–51, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2012–13, 2015–16

Intermediate honours

IFA Reserve League: 1

2006–07†

Steel & Sons Cup: 1

1995–96†

Louis Moore Cup: 1

1952–53†

George Wilson Cup: 2

1989–90†, 1990–91†

* Tournament was renamed the Festival of Britain Cup for one season

† Won by Ballymena United Reserves

Source:

Records

Club records

Wins

Record Home League Victory: 8–0 v Cliftonville, (18 September 1965); 8–0 v. Glenavon (8 March 1975); 8–0 v. Distillery (8 December 1979)

Record Away League Victory: 8–0 v. Newry Town (17 December 1994)

Most League Wins in a Season: 21 in 28 matches (1996–97)

Fewest League Wins in a Season: 3 in 22 matches (1956–57)

Defeats

Record Home League Defeat: 0–8 Belfast Celtic, (5 November 1938); 0–8 Cliftonville, (17 November 2012)

Record Away League Defeat: 1–9 Derry City, (23 August 1937); 0–8 Ards, (12 February 1949)

Most Defeats in a Season: 20 in 26 matches (1936–37)

Fewest Defeats in a Season: 3 in 28 matches (1996–97)

Most Draws in a Season: 16 in 36 matches (1999–00)

Goals

Most goals scored in a season: 82 in 26 matches (1939–40)

Fewest goals scored in a season: 20 in 22 matches (1976–77)

Most goals conceded in a season: 87 in 26 matches (1936–37)

Fewest goals conceded in a season: 21 in 22 matches (1980–81)

Most clean sheets in a season: 9 in 22 matches (1980–81)

Leading goalscorers by season

Source:

List of internationals

This is a list of players with appearances at international level while playing for Ballymena United.

Jackie Mahood (1 cap)

Jimmy McCambridge (2 caps)

Jock McNinch (3 caps)

Jim Platt (1 cap)

Source: