Newtownabbey NISC celebrates 40th anniversary

The Newtownabbey Northern Ireland Supporters’ Club, which counts a former Irish Football Association (IFA) President as a founding member, was set up in 1982.

Members have travelled across the globe to watch Northern Ireland play over the past four decades, while showing their support passionately at home games at Windsor Park. All of the Co Antrim-based club’s members attend home matches and the club gets in excess of 100 campaign cards for their family members to avail of.

The club has a limit of 24 members, with a waiting list drawn up for when a position becomes available. It is made up of people aged in their 20s through to their late 80s. Out of the 24 members, two have been there from the very start in 1982, Leslie McCully and Ken Webb.

Although the club’s membership is primarily made up of people from Newtownabbey and Ballyclare, it has attracted members from further afield, including some from Larne, Holywood, Lisburn and across Belfast.

To mark its four decades in existence, a number of events have been planned, as well as the creation of a commemorative pin badge based on the club’s oringinal crest.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council is also due to welcome representatives from the club to Mossley Mill for a civic reception, with the details to be confirmed at a later date.

A celebration function in Whitehouse Working Men’s Club is also being arranged, with a date to be announced in due course.

Speaking to the Newtownabbey Times, long-serving member Gary Wallace, who has held a number of senior posts at the club over the years, including Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman, said: "We are honoured the council has recognised our 40th anniversary. Unfortunately, the original date for the civic reception had to be cancelled due to death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“We meet in Whitehouse Working Men’s Club. Originally, the club was formed and met in the Standard Telephone Cables/Nortel Club. The club also used Whiteabbey Masonic Club for a time when the Nortel Club started to close on Mondays.

“One of the original founding members was Jim Shaw who later went on to become President of the IFA between 2010 and 2016. Our club is one of the founding members of the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs. Being in the Amalgamation brings benefits, including helping to arrange home and away tickets and sourcing details of venues we’re travelling to. The only clubs formed before ours are 1st Shankill NISC and Cookstown Royal NISC, also formed in 1982, so we’re one of the oldest clubs across the country.

"Our membership includes the Chairman and Vice President of Linfield FC and office bearers at Crusaders FC, as well as the President of the Ulster Badminton Association.

“Club members have travelled to almost every country in Europe, including France for the Euros in 2016. Members have also travelled further afield for games. Kazakhstan will be a new one for everyone in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

“Personally, the strangest place I’ve visited for a game was the Faroe Islands. It was a surreal place. The furthest I’ve travelled was to friendly games in Panama and Costa Rica in the summer of 2018.”

The upcoming events this year follow on from events in June 2007 when the club celebrated its 25th anniversary and 25 years since Northern Ireland played in the FIFA World Cup in the summer of 1982 in Spain.

The commemorative events 15 years ago included an anniversary dinner in Ballyclare Golf Club where the late Billy Bingham MBE, who had led the country to back-to-back World Cups in 1982 and 1986 (Mexico), as well playing in the World Cup in 1958 (Sweden), was the guest of honour alongside Jonny Evans, who was setting out on his international career, having made his full debut against Spain the previous year.

The club not only provides an opportunity for fans to cheer on the national team with the rest of the Green And White Army, but conducts kindhearted fundraising efforts to support worthy causes throughout the year.

Gary explained: “Over the years the club has raised funds for many charities. Over the past 11 years, in excess of £50,000 has gone to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and The Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. We started raising funds for this when my grandson was born with the disease back in 2011.

"Many thanks to everyone who has supported our charity efforts over the years. It really is appreciated.”

Club member, Cllr Robert Foster, added: “I’m incredibly proud to be a member of 1st Newtownabbey NISC. Being part of this club has taken us to places we would not otherwise have travelled to.

"One particular highlight for me was when we visited the Flanders Battlefields as part of an away trip to Luxembourg. It was incredibly moving to be part of the nightly remembrance at the Menin Gate, where the Club Chairman Angus Henry laid a wreath on behalf of the club.

“There is a very ‘broad church’ of Irish League club fans amongst the members and the banter is always great amongst great friends.”

Chairman of The Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs, Gary McAllister said: "We're delighted to see another of our member clubs reach a significant milestone.

“Newtownabbey NISC are a founder member of the Amalgamation and have played an active role in the organisation since our formation.

“On a personal level, I've enjoyed being in the company of the club's members both on away trips and at club events and have always been made very welcome.

“On behalf of the committee and our member clubs, we congratulate them on their anniversary."

For more information about the club and the events organised to mark the anniversary, check out the Newtownabbey NISC Facebook page.