New ART-iculated lorry for United sponsor Norman!

That was until one of his lorries rolled into the yard of his Moorfields-based haulage company on Thursday afternoon - adorned with artwork of Ballymena United players and images of the last 25 years!

The eye-catching design was the brainchild of Norman’s son Philip, to mark McBurney Transport’s 25 years of sponsoring the Sky Blues.

“I couldn’t believe it when it came into the yard!” Norman told Times Sport.

“I knew nothing about it beforehand - Philip had put it together and it was a complete surprise to me, but a lovely one.”

The livery - designed by Toome-based company G-Com - features a montage of images of much-loved Ballymena players from the time McBurney Transport came on board as the club’s main sponsor right up to the modern day.

“I really like the way it features players from different eras.

“When you look at it, you realise we have had some really good players in that time and you sometimes wonder how we haven’t been successful.

“It was also nice to see Allan Jenkins, from the current squad on it. Allan’s father ‘Taffy’ Jenkins actually drove for us and his father, Allan senior, owns a tyre depot in Stranraer where we get our tyres so it’s funny the links Allan had with the club.

“Philip texted him photos of the lorry and Allan rang him back to say he was delighted to be featured on it, which was nice of him.

“We have another lorry painted in Liverpool colours at our Liverpool depot, with players like Ian Rush and Steven Gerrard on it.

“Last year when Liverpool played Manchester United, the guy who drives it - who’s a Liverpool fan - drove it up to Anfield. Sky Sports spotted it and did an interview with the driver about the lorry!”

The new Ballymena United lorry will also be seen out and about on local roads, while it is also expected to make an appearance at this Saturday’s opening game of the season at home to Linfield.

It’s widely acknowledged that without Norman’s financial input, maintaining senior football in Ballymena would be a distant memory.

And if Ballymena fans have suffered from a lack of success since that 1989 Irish Cup final success - a picture of goal hero Paul Hardy holding the trophy aloft is one of the designs on the lorry - then no-one will have felt that pain more than Norman.

“People tell me I must be very loyal or very foolish!” he laughs.

“But I’m a supporter first and foremost and I would love to see Ballymena United doing well.

“I’ve been very impressed with what Glenn Ferguson has done since he came to the club and it would be great to see him take Ballymena on to win some silverware - hopefully this coming season,” added Norman.

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of Ballymena United will agree could be few people more deserving of that success than Norman McBurney.

* For the latest Ballymena United news, follow Sports Editor Stephen Alexander on Twitter (@Stephen_Bmena).