Glowing tributes as secretary Billy chalks up 50 years of league service

Glowing tributes were paid at the Ballymena & Provincial League dinner to league secretary Billy McIlroy, who has just completed his 50th season of being associated with the league.

The Ballymena man is well-known as one of Northern Ireland’s top footballing administrators and his name is synonymous with the league he has helped to establish as one of the most respected in the country.

League vice-chairman Robert Fenton led the tributes to Billy at the end of what he described as a “very trying year” for the league.

“But for Billy, some of the problems would not have been overcome.

“Billy and Jane (McIlrath, assistant league secretary) do the hard graft and it baffles me how they cope with the volume of work.

“Billy is a battler - he fights for what is right. He is not a nodding dog who will ‘go with the flow’.”

Robert also stated that Billy has now reached the age limit where he must step down from his current roles within the Irish Football Association but joked that if Sepp Blatter can tackle ageism by being re-elected FIFA President, then Billy might return!

Robert’s sentiments were echoed by Ballymena United vice-chairman Don Stirling who paid tribute to Billy’s unbelievable achievement in chalking up 50 years with the league.

“He has done great service at the IFA. He has ruffled a few feathers along the way but that is not necessarily a bad thing,” added Don.

Billy himself said: “It wasn’t until I saw it (the 50-year figure) printed out that I thought to myself ‘am I really that old?’. Time pases by in the blink of an eye.”

But he sounded a note of caution for the future, stating: We do need new blood. People can’t keep going on forever - that is not to paint a black picture.”

Turning to wider issues within the league, Billy said it was regrettable that Ballymena representation within the league looks set to be reduced still further, with Carniny Amateurs withdrawing from the league to play in the Amateur League next season.

That will leave no Ballymena teams in the league’s flagship intermediate division, and just Wakehurst Strollers and Clough Rangers Athletic within the junior divisions.

“Ballymena is a Saturday Morning League town and I’m not going to be critical of that - it is for teams to choose where they want to play,” he said.

Billy also said he hoped that more young players from the borough’s thriving youth football scene would come into adult football when they reach the end of the time within the youth ranks.

“Where do all these youngsters go when they turn 17 or 18?” he asked.

Touching upon a comment made on the topic by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, he said: “Keep young people playing in their own age group and they learn nothing.

“If you are good enough, you are old enough and I would like to see more young people coming into adult football at a young age,” added Billy, who thanked the league’s sponsors, in particular the Michelin Athletic Club, which has hosted the league’s functions for the past 36 years.

ROLL OF HONOUR

Prizewinners in the league’s divisions were:

Intermediate League (sponsored by Michelin Athletic Club) - Brantwood.

Junior Division One (sponsored by Michelin Athletic Club) - Ballyclare Comrades Reserves.

Junior Division Two (sponsored by Michelin Athletic Club) - Cookstown RBL.

Junior Division Three (sponsored by Michelin Athletic Club) - Rathcoole Fc Reserves.

Junior Division Four (sponsored by Michelin Athletic Club) - Krag Albion.

Canada Trophy (sponsored by Presentation Trophies) - Krag Albion.

McReynolds Cup (sponsored by Ballymena United FC) - Newtowne

Crawford Cup - Rathcoole FC.

O’Gorman Cup - Brantwood.

Fair Play Team of the Year: Intermediate - Newtowne; Junior Division One - Antrim Rovers/Desertmartin Swifts; Junior Division Two - Cookstown RBL; Junior Division Three - Wakehurst Strollers; Junior Division Four - Carnlough Swifts.

Manager of the Year: Intermediate - Joe McCann (Brantwood) Junior Division One - Stephen Hughes (ballyclare Comrades Reserves); Junior Division Two - Philip Gray (Cookstown RBL); Junior Division Three - Andy Erwin (Wakehurst Strollers); Junior Division Four - Billy McFarlane (3rd Ballyclare OB).

Leading Goalscorer: Intermediate - Robin Patton (Desertmartin); Junior Division One - Warren Brown (Castle Star); Junior Division Two - Ryan Davey (Ballyclare North End); Junior Division Three - Stuart Thompson (Red Star); Junior Division Four - Johnny Robb (Krag Albion).

Sportsperson of the Year: Intermediate - Steven Bainbridge (Brantwood); Junior Division One - Gerald Thornton (Cookstown Olympic); Junior Division Two - Tommy McKelvey (Cookstown RBL); Junior Division Three - Charles Allen (Wakehurst Strollers); Junior Division Four - Craig Beattie (Ballysillan Swifts Reserves).

Young Player of the Year: Intermediate - Daniel McIlhatton (Desertmartin), Steven Duffy (Newtowne), Joseph McClenaghan (Brantwood); Junior Division One - Mark Conn (Ballyclare Comrades Reserves); Junior Division Two - Conor Taggart (Moyola Park Olympic); Junior Division Three - Jordan Rainey (Brantwood Reserves), Niall Swann (Wakehurst Strollers); Junior Division Four - Jordan McDonald (Ballysillan Swifts Reserves).

Player of the Year: Intermediate - Paul McIvor (Newtowne); Junior Division One: Conor Murray (Antrim Rovers); Junior Division Two - Andrew Kelso (Cookstown RBL); Junior Division Three - Samuel Morgan (Brantwood Reserves); Junior Division Four - Johnny Robb (Krag Albion).