Moon prepare for 40th anniversary

KILLYMOON Rangers are celebrating their 40th anniversary on Saturday 4th February at the Royal Hotel in Cookstown.

The club have enjoyed a meteoric rise through the leagues and they have ambitions to try and go even further.However, they are taking one night to look back and remember the great times in their forty year history.

A night of nostalgia will take place at the Royal Hotel and the club are encouraging supporters, sponsors and ex players to attend.

Chairman David Brown spoke to the Mid Ulster Mail about the evening and he is looking forward to reminiscing about their achievements.

“The club have risen to the dizzy heights of the Irish League after starting out in the Cookstown Street League. Years ago we made the big decision to play in the Mid Ulster League and soon we participated at intermediate level and quickly progressed into the Irish League.”

Over the years numerous local players have represented the club at various levels and Brown is encouraging former players to get in touch.

“Currently we have very few records on past players who played for the club so we are encouraging any former players to record their names at Kenneth Charles and Son.”

Killymoon are asking all those interested in attending the night of nostalgia that they register their interest via the club website or Facebook page. Alternatively they can contact Malcolm McConkey on 07818840362

Despite taking the opportunity to look back and remember the good times that the club experienced, Brown was quick to point out that the club are in need of support from the Cookstown public.

“We are providing young men the opportunity to play in the Irish League in their home town. The support we receive at the moment is very poor. At the moment we are estimating that it will cost us around £23,000 to run the club in the Irish League from year to year. We are indebted to the Thom family for providing support over the last few years and we would like to thank for their continued support.”

“We are relying on the assistance of sponsors and those who pay £5 into each home game to assist with the running costs.”

Brown firmly believes that the football on offer at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena is value for money and he urges the footballing public of Cookstown to come out and enjoy watching top class Irish League football.

“The players and coaching staff do not get paid unlike some sides in the Irish League. At times we have had to pinch ourselves at how far we have came. Over the last two seasons we have visited both Linfield and Glentoran in cup fixtures. This is how far this club have came over the last forty years.”

However, Brown admitted that without financial support and more supporters going through the turnstiles that another team in the area could disappear.

“Cookstown United was left to disappear and very little was said about it. We are playing at a much higher standard but in order to be able to compete at this level we need more support both at games and throughout financial assistance. Without this, another team in this town will disappear.”

Related topics: