Ballymena United F.C.
Northern Irish club formed in 1934, five-time Irish Cup winners.
Ballymena United Football Club is a semi-professional side from Northern Ireland, based in Ballymena, County Antrim. They play in the NIFL Premiership and call the Ballymena Showgrounds home. The club came into being in 1934, stepping in after the old Ballymena F.C. folded. That earlier club had been founded on 7 April 1928 by four local businessmen and football fans who believed the town deserved a senior team in the Irish League. Known as the 'Braidmen' or 'Sky Blues'—the latter from the colour of their home shirts—United have lifted the Irish Cup five times. Their main rivals are Coleraine, and the annual Boxing Day derby between the two draws big crowds, standing as one of the most notable fixtures in Northern Irish football.
**History**
**Foundation and the War (1934–1946)** When Ballymena F.C. dissolved after the 1933–34 season, locals moved quickly to form a new club and apply for the vacant Irish League spot. Crusaders also wanted in, but at the league’s annual general meeting on 20 June 1934, the new outfit—Ballymena United—was chosen without opposition. The club broke with tradition by appointing a manager instead of relying on a committee for team selection. That first manager, Joe Millar, came from Bournemouth & Boscombe and had once been capped for Ireland. He tapped his Scottish connections to bring several players to the Showgrounds. Still, despite reaching an Irish Cup semi-final, United finished tenth in the league in their debut season. The 1934–35 campaign also saw the launch of a reserve team. The next season ended with another tenth-place finish and little progress in most cups. Before the 1936–37 term, Jock McNinch left for Sligo Rovers after 315 games, the last link to the old Ballymena side. That summer, the club gave him a testimonial—its first ever. United then hit rock bottom, finishing last in the Irish League for the first time with just four league wins. Only an Irish Cup semi-final run, ended by Belfast Celtic, offered any relief. Poor form carried into the next season, which featured a record 9–1 loss to Derry City and six straight defeats before the board hired Steve Mitchell as player-manager. Mitchell turned things around: Ballymena won 14 of their next 17 games, climbing from last to fifth, eight points behind champions Belfast Celtic. They also reached the County Antrim Shield final for the first time, losing 3–2 to Lin
- formed
- 1934
- nicknames
- Braidmen, Sky Blues
- home_ground
- Ballymena Showgrounds
- league
- NIFL Premiership
- major_honours
- Irish Cup (5 times)
- main_rivals
- Coleraine
Lore & Background
Ballymena United was created in 1934 following the end of Ballymena F.C. at the close of the 1933–34 season. At the Irish League's annual general meeting on 20 June 1934, the new club was chosen unanimously over Crusaders for the vacancy. The club appointed its first manager, Joe Millar, a former Ireland international from Bournemouth & Boscombe, who brought Scottish players to the Showgrounds. Despite an Irish Cup semi-final appearance, United finished tenth in their first league season. The club's early years saw struggles, including finishing bottom of the Irish League for the first time with only four league wins, though a run to the Irish Cup semi-finals provided some cheer. A record defeat to Derry City (1–9) preceded a turnaround under player-manager Steve Mitchell, who led the team to win 14 of 17 games and a fifth-place finish. The club nearly completed a league and cup double in 1938–39, finishing runners-up in both, before winning the 1940 Irish Cup 2–0 over Glenavon. Football was then suspended due to World War II, and the Showgrounds was taken over for the war effort.
Reader's Guide
Ballymena United holds significance as a longstanding club in Northern Irish football, having been formed to replace Ballymena F.C. and gaining immediate admission to the Irish League. The club's early history reflects the challenges of establishing a senior team, including financial difficulties and wartime disruption. Its five Irish Cup victories, beginning with the 1940 win, mark it as a notable provincial side. The annual Boxing Day derby with Coleraine remains a high-profile fixture. The club's legacy includes pioneering gestures such as the first testimonial granted by United, to Jock McNinch, and producing players like Frankie Houghton, whose transfer to Newcastle United for £6,000 was a considerable sum. The Festival of Britain Cup win in 1952 and the County Antrim Shield victories further underscore its role in regional football. Despite periods of poor performance and debt, the club has persisted, with community support helping clear debts in 1955.
Did You Know?
- The club was formed in 1934 after the dissolution of Ballymena F.C., which had been founded on 7 April 1928.
- Ballymena United's first manager, Joe Millar, had previously been capped for Ireland and arrived from Bournemouth & Boscombe.
- The club's record defeat was 1–9 to Derry City.
- Frankie Houghton was transferred to Newcastle United for £6,000 after a record crowd of 9,067 attended an Irish Cup match.
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