BALLINAMALLARD United Football Club will remember the “community spirit and volunteering that it prides itself on” as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in style this summer.
On Saturday, a large crowd is expected to turn out to the Manor House Country Hotel for a Gala Dinner which is the first of a number of events which will mark the reformation of the club.
Club chairman, Tom Elliott, feels it’s important to celebrate the highs and significant achievements, while also remembering the many challenges that the Mallards have faced.
“The club has gone through significant changes since its reformation in 1975,” Mr Elliott said.
“To get the club reestablished in the first place was significant. At our Gala Dinner, we’re going to have people present who have been significant in the development, not just our footballers.”
At this weekend’s celebration, Ballinamallard United will remember the 30th anniversary of the IFA Intermediate Cup winning side of 1995, who captured the title after a 3-1 victory over Park FC.
Among the guests in attendance will be representatives from the 2012 IFA Championship winning squad, as well as players from the 2019 Tennent’s Irish Cup Final side who lost out to Crusaders.
Boasting a state-of-the-art facility, Ballinamallard United Football Club has led the way in club development in Fermanagh. The club will celebrate the efforts of their members this weekend.
“There has been a huge amount of development and it has all been fronted up by volunteers and the level of volunteering has been a major highlight for the club,” explained Mr Elliott.
“We were one of the first clubs in the Fermanagh and Western to have our own grounds and we built the clubhouse. We started up our youth development in the 1990s which was a major thing.
“We developed the Fisher Park complex and built a 3G and we had some major achievements on the field. We were the first club in Fermanagh and Western to have floodlights on Fisher Park.”
At the event at the Manor House Country Hotel, the club will pay tribute to a number of figures who have played pivotal roles in the development of Ballinamallard, since the early days of 1975.
“When you think of people who were behind the establishment of the club and have passed on, Billy Aiken was our first chairman and key to getting the club up and running,” said Mr Elliott.
“Tommy Fisher was our first president until he passed away and his son, Bertie, was a good club supporter. You’ve people like Greg Turley and Gary Bownes, an absolute delight to watch.”
Aside from this weekend’s Gala Dinner, other events will be held to mark Ballinamallard’s 50th anniversary including an exhibition, a launch of a history book and a special club sponsors night.
Mr Elliott said that all of the celebrations will honour people who have played a part in the club.
“We have a family and community atmosphere that is so positive and we’re a really good community club. It’s that community spirit and volunteering that we pride ourselves on,” he said.
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