FORMER Irish League players Ciaran McLaughlin and Simon Gribben have called for an amalgamation between Tollymore and Newcastle FC.
Gribben enjoyed spells at Cliftonville, Kilmore Rec and Bangor in between numerous stints at Newcastle and Tollymore. He’s still playing for the Seasiders at the age of 48 and turned out for them recently against Dunmurry Rec.
McLaughlin started his career with Tollymore before going on to enjoy a long and successful Irish League career that included stints with Crusaders, Cliftonville, Ards, institute, Ballymena United and Glentoran.
The Seasiders finished the season second-bottom of the Amateur League 1A table and have been relegated to NAFL 1B, while Tollymore narrowly avoided relegation from Division 2 of the Mid-Ulster League.
“There has to be change, because the way it’s going now, Tollymore aren’t having much success, neither are Newcastle, and both teams are going in opposite directions when both clubs should be pulling in one direction,” Gribben said.
“It’s time to let the football people of Newcastle take the reins and move things forward, I’ve always been an avid supporter of one team, one community and one club.”
Newcastle native McLaughlin says the presence of two clubs in the town is hampering the development of young players in the area, pointing to the fact that no local players have played in the NIFL Premiership since he retired.
“I retired from the Irish League 15 years ago and I can’t think of one other player that’s made it at a senior level within the Irish League since I retired, which is a very sad thing.”
Read the story in full in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.
