Loughgall F.C.

Loughgall

Full name	Loughgall Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Villagers
Founded	1967;57 years ago (1967)
Ground	Lakeview Park
Capacity	1,300
Chairman	Sam Nicholson
Manager	Dean Smith
League	NIFL Premiership
2022–23	NIFL Championship, 1st (promoted)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Loughgall Football Club is a semi-professional Northern Irish football club currently playing in the NIFL Premiership. The club has been managed by Dean Smith since 2016.

History

The club, founded in 1967, is situated in the village of Loughgall, near Armagh in County Armagh and they play their home games in the village at Lakeview Park. The club was accepted into the old Irish League B Division in 1991, having played largely at junior level prior. Alfie Wylie is their longest serving manager, being in charge from 1986–1999. In the 1996–97 season, the club would have a good season, notably defeating Cliftonville in the League Cup, winning the Bob Radcliffe cup and reaching the semi-final of the Irish Cup. In the space of four years, the Lakeview Park side would win four consecutive B Divisions however would not be granted election to the 1st Division, being overlooked for other, arguably bigger clubs further down the league table.

First Premiership foray, Championship era and Premiership return (2004-)

They achieved senior status in 2004 on promotion to the Irish Premier League, but reverted to intermediate status upon relegation in 2007. In 2007, under the management of Niall Currie, the club had their most successful season, winning the first division, Bob Radciffe, Mid Ulster Cup, Intermediate Cup and Carnegie League Cup. The villagers would win the league again in 2009–10 but would not be promoted. On 3 March 2018, Loughgall defeated Glenavon 2–1 to reach the semi-final of the Irish Cup for the first time since 1997. ^[1]

In April 2023, the club would return to the NIFL Premiership for the first time since 2007, following a 3–1 win away to Dundela. ^[2] In being promoted, the village of Loughgall would become the smallest settlement, with a population of 283, to have a top flight team in Europe. ^[3] The club would start their season away to Newry City.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   GER Berraat Türker 2 DF   NIR Mark Carson 3 DF   NIR Jamie Rea 4 DF   NIR Ben Murdock(Captain) 5 DF   NIR Oran Brogan 6 MF   NIR Tiernan Kelly 7 MF   BRA Pablo Andrade 8 MF   NIR Alan Teggart 9 FW   NIR Nathaniel Ferris 10 FW   NIR Andrew Hoey 11 FW   IRL Caolan McAleer 12 MF   NIR Robbie Norton

No. Pos. Nation Player 13 MF   NIR Jordan Gibson 15 DF   NIR Luke Cartwright 18 MF   DOM Alberto Baldé 19 DF   NIR James Carroll 20 GK   NIR Daniel Devine 21 MF   NIR Ben Magee 23 DF   NIR Caolan Loughran 26 DF   NIR Ben Harvey 27 MF   NIR Adhamh Towe 37 FW   NIR Leon Boyd(On loan from Glentoran) 39 FW   NIR Ryan Waide

On Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF   NIR Lee McMenemy(On loan at Coagh United until 1st July 2024) 24 FW   NIR Aaron Duke(On loan at Ballymacash Rangers until 1st July 2024)

Managerial history

• Noel Willis (1967–70)
• George Willis (1970–76)
• Sam Robinson (1977–81)
• Raymond Nesbitt (1983–84)
• Willie Forbes (1984–85)
• Alfie Wylie (1986–99)
• Alan Fraser (1999)
• Ronnie Cromie (1999-01)
• Jimmy Gardiner (2001–06)
• Shane Reddish (2006–07)
• Niall Currie (2007–Feb 2011)
• Colin Malone (May 2011–Aug 2013)
• Gary McKinstry (Aug 2013–Dec 2013)
• Brian Adair (Dec 2013–Dec 2014)
• Noel Mitchell (Jan 2015–May 2015)
• Stephen Uprichard and Steven Hawe (May 2015–November 2016)
• Dean Smith (November 2016-)

Honours

Senior honours

• NIFL Championship: 1
  • 2022–23
• Mid-Ulster Cup: 3
  • 2003–04, 2007–08, 2019–20

(Note: The NIFL Championship gained senior status in 2016, having previously been an intermediate competition.)

Intermediate honours

• Irish League B Division/First Division /IFA Intermediate League/IFA Championship: 7
  • 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10
• Irish Intermediate Cup: 2
  • 1997–98, 2007–08
• IFA Intermediate League Cup: 1
  • 2007–08
• Bob Radcliffe Cup: 12
  • 1978–79, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2014–15

References

1. "Loughgall FC History". Loughgall FC Website. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
2. "Villagers claim Lough 41 Championship". Northern Ireland Football League. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
3. "Loughgall on verge of UEFA record as smallest settlement to have a top flight football club". Belfast Telegraph Sport. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.

External links

• Loughgall FC Website