Annagh United Football Club (The name 'Annagh' from Irish Eanach 'Marsh') is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the NIFL Championship. The club, founded in 1963, hails from Portadown and plays its home matches at the BMG Arena. The club home colours are all red and away all white.
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| Full name | Annagh United Football Club | ||
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| Founded | 1963 | ||
| Ground | BMG Arena, Portadown | ||
| Capacity | 950 (150 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Brian McGurgan | ||
| Manager | Ciaran McGurgan | ||
| League | NIFL Championship | ||
| 2023–24 | NIFL Championship, 4th of 12 | ||
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History edit
Tandragee Road has been the club's home since 1983. Indeed when the club opened its new pitch a Northern Irish star player of the time, the great George Best turned out in an Annagh United select side.
In the 2009–10 season however, the team finished near the bottom of the league and manager Wilkinson parted company with the club. In late July David Johnstone ex Loughgall caretaker manager was appointed manager. Johnstone played for Ards, Carrick Rangers, Larne and Loughgall. Recent seasons have brought some notable cup runs, none less than 2006–07 under the reign of Niall Currie, now boss at fellow Championship club Dundela, when they reached the Mid-Ulster Cup final against local senior club Newry City and the Irish Intermediate Cup Semi-final against Coagh United. Annagh lost out to the latter in the Bob Radcliffe Cup semi-final earlier in that season.
Johnstone has since departed the club and the temporary management team of players Dean Smith, Darragh Peden and Alan Murphy took over. Dean Smith was confirmed as manager for the 2013–14 season with Alan Murphy assistant and Darragh Peden coach. The club were promoted to the NIFL Championship 1 in the 2014–15 season and managed to survive for the 2016–17 season.
The club suffered greatly in their second season in NIFL Championship 1 suffering very heavy defeats to Institute, Dergview, Knockbreda and Warrenpoint Town with the club sitting rock bottom of Championship 1. They did, however, pull of a massive shock in the League Cup when they defeated Glentoran 3-2 with Nacho Novo scoring his first goal for the East Belfast side in what was Alan Kernaghan's last game in charge of Glentoran.[1]
2018–19 season saw the club under the leadership of Manager Ciaran McGurgan assisted with Simon Haffey as Assistant Manager and Coaches Paul Matchett, John Convery and Alan Murphy. It started well with the club sitting well in the league having been unbeaten from August 2018 to January 2019. They finished as league runners-up and competed with the PSNI from NIFL Championship in a two legged play off losing 5-3 on aggregate.
2019–20 season, the club started well. With 14 games played the club was top of the league on 33 points having recorded 10 wins and 3 draws but March 2020 brought the Coronavirus Pandemic, leading to all football being suspended. At the NIFL’s Board meeting on Monday 22 June, the Board determined that following the conclusion of the consultation process with all member clubs via Management Committees, and the appraisal of all season-end options, the current league season would be curtailed immediately. It was also determined that the NIFL would engage an independent football data consultancy to recommend and apply a mathematical model in order to determine final standings in each division. In June 2020 Annagh United were successfully crowned NIFL Premier Intermediate League Champions and promoted to the NIFL Championship.[2]
With no league games for NIFL Championship or PIL Premiership teams and no fans allowed into games due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation it was decided to play the Irish Cup and the team in April 2021 played away to Linfield in the Irish Cup performing valiantly well in a 2-0 defeat. [3]
The 2021-22 saw Annagh United finish the season 2nd place in the NIFL Championship behind winners Newry City, as well as reaching the Mid Ulster Cup final, losing to Warrenpoint Town. Annagh would go into the promotion play-off for a place in the NIFL Premiership against neighbors Portadown in what was a remarkable achievement for a club like Annagh, who had never been in this position before. The 2 legs would draw large crowds and resulted in Portadown winning 3-2 at the BMG Arena and 1-0 at Shamrock Park in the return leg to retain their NIFL Premiership status.[4]
The following the season the club would have another run at the play offs, this time against Dungannon Swifts, after a valliant 2-1 win at the BMG Arena, a 2-0 defeat in the 2nd leg would see Annaghs wait for a maiden promotion to Northern Irelands top flight continue. [5]
Honours edit
Intermediate honours edit
Current squad edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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References edit
- ^ "NI League Cup:Annagh United knock out Glentoran in second round". BBC Sport NI. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Annagh United title proud". Belfast Live. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Irish Cup: Linfield see off brave Annagh United as Cliftonville, Carrick and Warrenpoint go through". BBC Sport NI. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Ports Beat Annagh in Premiership Play Off". BBC Sport NI. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Annagh United on cusp of unlikely promotion after first leg win over Dungannon Swifts". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 28 July 2023.