Football is coming home for Carrick Rangers

After what feels like an absolute age, Carrick Rangers are back at Taylors Avenue.

Issues with the pitch, and then the broader infrastructure, forced the club to use Seaview (Belfast), Dixon Park (Ballyclare) and latterly Inver Park (Larne) for ‘home’ games.

Apart from few months, Rangers have lived a nomadic lifestyle since 2011, and it has to be said the loss of home advantage has taken its toll.

I believe that had Carrick Rangers been able to host Premier League games, relegation may have been prevented and the two subsequent attempts to get back at the top table would have been more successful.

Being absent from Carrickfergus has undoubtedly had a detrimental effect on the club.

Attracting new supporters from the town, raising sponsorship and maintaining the profile of the club within the borough have been almost impossible.

Respect has to go to the board, supporters’ club and players to put this behind them, roll up their collective sleeves and get on with the hard work required to field a team every match day.

Now that we are back at our spiritual home, it would be great to see the good folk of Carrickfergus get behind the team that represents their town week in week out.