PAST PORTS: Neil Ogden

Portadown Times sports editor Patrick Van Dort talks to a former player about his Shamrock Park career:
Shamrock ParkShamrock Park
Shamrock Park

NAME: Neil Ogden

AGE: The big 40!

POSITION: Anywhere Ronnie decided...

TIME WITH PORTS: 2000-2003

CLUBS BEFORE PORTADOWN: Wigan Athletic, Spar AmaZulu, Sligo Rovers, Shelbourne, Galway United

CLUBS AFTER PORTADOWN: Larne

HIGHLIGHT AS A PORTADOWN PLAYER: Winning the league in 2002 - especially after surviving relegation the previous season by the skin of our teeth

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

BEST MATE AT PORTADOWN: The title-winning lads were a good bunch, with Gary Hamilton and Kyle Neill especially two great guys. You could not do anything but respect people like Vinny Arkins and Philip Major

FUNNIEST TEAM-MATE: Gary Hamilton

HARDEST TEAM-MATE: Mickey Collins had the reputation, with Philip Major a proper honest hard man, plus Scotty (Steven) Douglas would tackle a brick wall

TEAM-MATE WITH MOST SKILL: Vinny Arkins was the most clinical finisher I’ve ever been on a pitch with and Gary Hamilton could be unplayable

PICK YOUR PFC FIVE-A-SIDE TEAM: Mickey Keenan, Dean Fitzgerald, Vinny Arkins, Gary Hamilton and me!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND: Mourneview Park, The Oval or Windsor Park

PRE-MATCH SUPERSTITIONS: None

TOUGHEST RIVAL PLAYER: Anyone with pace!

RIVAL PLAYER YOU MOST RATED: Glenn Ferguson

TEAM YOU LOVED TO BEAT: Glentoran - I still remember scoring a 35-yard wonder goal to win the match...then the escort out of the ground

MODERN LIFE: Knee problems forced me to retire at 29 years old after scoring for Larne against Portadown in the 2005 Irish Cup final. I now work in the Acquired Brain Injury Field helping with the rehab process.