JIMMY BROWN

(To view last season's notes, click here)

18th April 2006: There is no doubt that the game against Larne last Saturday week was a big blow to morale and to our fight to remain in the Premier League. The players were really down after the game, and rightly so, because we are a better team than we showed in the second half. The damage was done however in the first half by two excellent strikes by McCutcheon. But we really should have closed him down before he was able to set himself for the shots on goal. I thought we were the better side in the first half and had numerous chances to take a comfortable lead but we didn’t get the rub of the green to convert them.

At the time of writing we are going into a very difficult away game against Portadown who, even without Arkins and Hamilton, will be a very difficult side to beat. They are chasing Glentoran for that second spot in the League but we will be doing everything we can to stop them and add to our own points tally.

I was very disappointed to learn that we lost three points, so well earned against Ards earlier in the season, due to an administrative error at the IFA. It is a bitter blow that we could have done without at this stage in the proceedings. The players, Pete and I must now all work hard in the remaining games to turn the setback into a positive and get the points back by winning games on the park.

I am also very disappointed that Andy McDonald has found it necessary to refrain from playing again for Glenavon because of the personal abuse he was getting from a small number of supporters. He is the second player to walk away in such circumstances and it saddens me that this sort of situation has arisen. With injuries and suspensions digging in it’s difficult enough to keep a squad together, particularly when we need all the playing personnel available for selection at this time. However, I am determined to finish the season on a high and today we face a quality Ballymena United team who are still trying to qualify for a Sentanta Cup spot. In the reverse fixture at the showgrounds we showed great determination to come out of the game with a 2-3 win. It would nice if we could make it a double today.

8th April 2006: The remaining fixtures are all very important in our quest to retain Premier League status. With no game last Saturday I took the squad to the excellent training facility at Newforge Country Club and put them through their paces in preparation for the Mid-Ulster Cup final. Unfortunately we didn’t retain the trophy, but I thought we put up a spirited display. Going deservedly in front in the first half we then had a number of good calls for penalties turned down. But that’s football and I want to congratulate the Swifts on taking their chances and winning the trophy.

Today we are back to the bread and butter of the league and take on Larne. I watched them last week and was impressed with their display against a Glentoran side that we were unlucky not to take a point from a fortnight ago. This was largely due to an inept performance from match officials. Larne played some good enterprising football and seem much better organised since Kenny Shields took over. Our reverse fixture at Inver Park was a ding-dong affair with the Black brothers, Aaron and Ross, very much in the thick of things in terms of the eventual result, both scoring for their respective teams. Today’s game will, no doubt, be equally as tight with both teams desperate to capture the points and climb away from the danger zone. Unfortunately, once again, we must do without the services of Marty Verner and David McAlinden. Both remain suspended, making life more difficult for us, but we will battle on. Their absence provides an opportunity for others to come in and do the job. Gerard McMahon picked up an injury in the game on Tuesday night. He will be tested before kick-off today.

I have been very impressed with the displays by young Craig McMillen who came in to the team at a difficult time. Thrown in at the deep end against Glentoran he did extremely well, and again on Tuesday night he showed he has a future at this level. Also, young Paddy Hope is progressing well and its looking good for the future that we have these talented kids and more coming through the ranks.

Your backing for the team at the Oval and on Tuesday night was fantastic and we are looking for more of the same today.

18th March 2006: The defeat by Cliftonville and the other results involving teams around us in the league last Saturday has made it more difficult for us in the chase to stay in the Premiership. I thought we did well to get back into the game on a very heavy Solitude pitch that made good football difficult. However, once again, a very poor refereeing decision robbed us of a possible victory. Mark Courtney failing to give a penalty decision for a blatant foul on Paul McKnight in the Cliftonville box. Had that decision gone for us and we had scored, I don’t think that we would have left Solitude empty handed. Having said that, we didn’t trouble Cliftonville’s replacement goalkeeper enough when he came on for the injured Stranney. Instead we again conceded a goal from a set-piece situation that should have been prevented.

Our objective of ensuring Premiership safety is getting more difficult as the number of run-in games reduces. But I am confident that we will do it. Seven games left and our destiny is still very much in our own hands. We are determined to secure the necessary points.

Last Tuesday night we had a good result against a battling Laurelvale in the Mid-Ulster Cup semi-final. This was a team full of confidence after taking out Armagh City and Loughgall in earlier rounds. As holders of this cup we will look forward to the final against Dungannon Swifts in early April.

Good news is that Conor Walsh is again available and Aiden McVeigh is progressing with his rib injury. Barry Reid is available after serving a suspension but Marty Verner continues to have problems with the thigh injury, which prevents him completing ninety minutes. Lee Duxbury could not continue after half time last week with a tear in his right calf muscle. We have had our fair share of injuries and suspensions but we have to get on with it.

Our last meeting with Institute was not easy although we won the game. It will be more of the same today as we battle for the points. Liam Beckett has lifted the players since he joined the club and we must be at our very best if we are to achieve a league double over them.

25th February 2006: The ups and downs of football were certainly in evidence at Mourneview in the last two weeks. Firstly we had a very good Nationwide Irish Cup win over Coleraine a fortnight ago, followed by a poor result against Newry City last Saturday in the Premier League. It’s a phenomenon that appears to be happening, not just with Glenavon, but with the batch of clubs from second bottom up to about sixth place. Other results in league games over the past number of months have ended in a similar fashion with clubs in this sector having a good game one week and perhaps a poor result the following. Certainly, while we played well against Coleraine in the cup a three-goal margin was fortuitous when you think of some of the saves that Andy McDonald had to make.

At Glenavon we need to address this inconsistency, sooner rather than later, considering the late stage of the competition. We now have nine league games left and our challenge for this season remains, to retain premiership status. Performances like last week would make it an extremely difficult run in to the finishing line. However, on average, we are a very young side and it can be difficult to extract consistency with such a young and inexperienced squad. One thing for sure is that we will continue to work hard, in training and in games, to accumulate the points necessary to retain our place in the premiership next season.

Marty Verner is on a good scoring run and I hope that will continue, but we also need to be scoring more often from other areas and conceding less silly goals. Good news is that Aiden McVeigh made his come back last week with the reserves and scored a hat trick. Aiden is added to the panel for today’s game.

Today we again have Coleraine at home and I think it would be fair to say that we would all like a repeat of the cup result. Somehow I think Marty Quinn’s side will have something to say about that. There are certainly good players in this Coleraine team and they can cause problems. So once again I’m anticipating a very difficult home game but, with your help, I’ll be delighted to get a double over my old mate Marty.

18th February 2006: I was extremely pleased with the win over Coleraine in the Irish Cup which brought us to six games unbeaten since defeat by Dungannon. It was particularly pleasing on three counts. Firstly, it was our best result at home this season. Secondly, Paul McKnight, who has had a lot of injury problems since I arrived at Mourneview, had an excellent game contributing to the win. Thirdly, a great display by Andy McDonald. Andy made some tremendous saves when we were under severe pressure. On top of that he was stamped in the face by a Coleraine player and deserves a lot of credit for continuing with such an injury and doing so well into the bargain. We will now look forward to a quarterfinal trip to Windsor Park.

While the Irish Cup is a welcome distraction from league duty it is now back to the bread and butter stuff and a difficult game against Newry City. Paul Millar, who did a good job since taking over at Newry, has now moved to Glentoran and we wish him well for the future, so at the time of writing I don’t know who will be in charge today. But they have players who can make life very difficult for any team as Linfield found out recently. However, we have the players and the form to keep our run going and pick up three very valuable points.

On the player front, I’m hoping that Andy will be fit to resume today. Aiden McVeigh is still troubled with a rib injury and it could be another two weeks before he starts a game in earnest. He has been doing light training, but can’t risk a run in the reserve team just yet. Garth Walsh has moved on to Crusaders and we all wish him well for the future.

On Tuesday last we visited the Prokick Gym in Belfast for a change in the training routine. It all came about through my friend Ian Young, a leading amateur kick boxer, who has now returned to the sport following his retirement from football. Ian knows the game, having played for Linfield, Crusaders and Carrick Rangers, and together with ex world champion Billy Murray, put on an excellent training programme particularly designed to develop upper body strength, so important in the modern game.

11th February 2006: We have now played our last five games without defeat although there have been disappointments along the way. Two points dropped against Distillery and another two at Loughall. In the Distillery game I was pleased that we showed the character to twice come from behind but frustrated that we couldn’t grab the winner from the chances created. Philip Mathews was at his best to deny Marty Verner a hat trick and more. At the other end James Millar had a good debut. He made some great saves and looked confident throughout the ninety minutes.

The Ards game was widely billed as a must win game for them to avoid relegation. I also saw it as a must win situation if we were to stay on course. I expected a tough game, on a poor playing surface, just as it turned out. Ards were difficult to break down, creating chances in the first half, but we took control and another double from Marty Verner and a cracker from Kieran O’Connor sealed the three points.

As holders of the Mid-Ulster Cup we want to do well in this competition and it was pleasing to reach the semi-final with a victory over Lurgan Celtic. This brings an intriguing home game with Laurelvale next month and one that we need to be wary of. They already have the scalps of Armagh City and Loughall and will come here with more than a hint of confidence.

Disappointment again at Loughall last Saturday. Two points dropped after being in front for most of the game. When Loughall went down to ten men we failed to capitalise but instead seemed to lose our shape and our rhythm and, as they battled harder we paid the penalty, conceding a late goal.

Today it’s a break from the grind of the Premier League as we welcome Coleraine for the 6^th round of the Irish cup. Our last meeting, a league game, at Coleraine Showgrounds, ended scoreless thanks mainly to Davy O’Hare making several great saves to deny us a win. While league points are our priority, as we re-establish ourselves in the Premier League, we will enjoy our Cup run. I am confidant that we have the players and the form to get us to the quarterfinal draw.

21st January 2006: We knew going in to last Saturday’s Irish cup game with Dundela that it was never going to be easy and that is exactly how it turned out. Conceding the early goal from a superb free kick by Brian Hylands made it a real uphill battle. However, I was confident that we would soon get back on terms and go on to win the round. A task made even more difficult by the referee’s decision to, overrule his assistant and, disallow a Marty Verner goal and then not award a penalty for, what appeared to everyone else in the ground to be, a blatant handball in front of goal. Decisions like that happen all the time. You disagree but the decision is final and you just get on with it and get the job done. We can now look forward to a home game against Coleraine in the next round.

I’m pleased with our two most recent signings. Mid-fielder Lee Duxbury, having played more than six hundred league games for four clubs in England, brings a wealth of experience to the squad. He scored on his debut against Dundela and I’m hopeful that, as he settles in at Glenavon, there will be much more of the same. The acquisition from Institute of ‘keeper Gary Ramsay now gives us the luxury of two senior goalkeepers. Competition will now be hotter than ever with both players keen to acquire and keep the number one shirt.

It was disappointing that the IFA would not permit Mid-Ulster Cup quarterfinal games to be brought forward and played during the past week. Our game with Lurgan Celtic Bhoys would obviously have eased the situation regarding current suspensions and widened our team selection options for today’s game. Another case of accept it and get on with the job in hand.

Today it’s back to the Premier League and a second meeting with Lisburn Distillery. Our first encounter of this campaign, at a windswept New Grosvenor, was, as expected, a hard fought affair. We battled hard, created and took our chances and deservedly got the three league points and our first win of the season. I expect today to be just as competitive and I’m confident of a similar result.

14th January 2006: The performance and results in the last two league games, against Linfield and Dungannon Swifts respectively, have been very disappointing to say the least. In the case of Linfield we were not expected to win given the sort of form they are in at the moment and the number of goals they are scoring against most other teams in the league. However, what really hurt on Saturday last at Dungannon was our total capitulation in the second half. Against what, in my opinion, is not an outstanding team in terms of having tremendous talent, but more a workmanlike outfit that can create and take their chances.

We are certainly not the finished article yet in terms of Premier League status. We have done reasonably well in the first half of the competition but have lacked consistency and will have to improve on that in the coming weeks. We collected no points from the first two games in the second half of the programme, compared to one point at the same stage in the first half. Not much of a difference, but the alarming thing is that we have conceded eleven goals without scoring in our last two games. In the first two matches against the same teams we scored three goals and conceded four, and that is very worrying.

Today we put the league situation behind us for the moment and entertain Dundela in the Nationwide Irish Cup. I know Mervyn Bell and his players will be up for this one. They will no doubt believe that they have a chance of progressing in the competition. Particularly as Glenavon have only recently been promoted from division one and given our recent results. Cup games are a one off and shock results do happen, as we saw in the FA and Scottish Cups last week. I have produced plenty of cup upsets in my time in management in Irish League football and I know the pitfalls that can trip up any hot favourites. I can assure you that my players are ready for this game and we have no intention of being on the wrong side of an upset. There is no doubt that it will not be easy but with effort and performance and your help we will get the job done. I, like you, want Glenavon in the hat when the draw is made for the next round after today’s game.

BOXING DAY NOTES: By the time you read this we will already have played Larne on Thursday night and hopefully collected another three points. Printer’s deadlines and Christmas Holidays have dictated that I’m unable to review the game here but lets hope the tremendous away form will have continued. Whatever the result Larne will not have been easy after taking a tanking from a very in-form Linfield in their previous game.

At the time of writing we have just come off a very good away win at Ballymena Showgrounds. Having played United twice in the CIS Cup earlier in the season we knew it would be a difficult game and that’s exactly the way it turned out. But all the boys, on the day, were absolutely magnificent and gave their all to win the game, especially when Andy McDonald was sent off and Shea Campbell took over in nets. Under pressure Shea didn’t look at all out of place in the keeper’s jersey and his handling was excellent. Is this an option for the future? Maybe!! I have to say that I attach no blame whatsoever to Andy for the sending off. We made a slip at the back and it looked a sure goal for Sweeney until Andy sacrificed himself to give the team a chance of winning the game and picking up three very special points instead of a probable one.

On the injury front, Robbie Farrell has just undergone surgery on the cartilage in his knee. Paul Evans and Garth Walsh are coming along well with their respective hamstring injuries. I hope all three will be back in the squad soon.

Today we face another formidable hurdle in the shape of a local derby against Portadown. Having already played the Ports in the CIS Cup we know they will be very difficult to beat. But we must start to produce better form in our home games and we must start today. The CIS Cup games were fairly close but obviously I hope that we can lift our game to another level. We are certainly capable of it.

Once again I have to say that your support in recent games has been magnificent and I want that to continue today. So get behind the team as much as you can and let them hear you. That could drive them on to our first home win since the Ards game back in October.

Thank you all for your support.

Jim Brown

Notes for 2^nd January 2006: Once again printer’s deadlines and Christmas Holidays dictate that I am unable to review our previous games here. I can only hope that by the time you read this we will have picked up points at the expense of Larne and also from our big Boxing Day derby at home to Portadown. Whatever the results, both of those games were going to be very difficult.

Today we have reached a turning point in the Premier League championship race and once again we face Linfield. Who would have predicted at the start of the league campaign that the Windsor Park men would be in pole position by now and scoring goals for fun. The strike partnership of young Peter Thompson and the veteran Glen Ferguson has proved to be extremely effective, but this Linfield team are capable of scoring goals from all over the park as so many teams have learned to their cost. However, if you can recall, in the first game of the championship at Windsor Park we played rather well and with chances created we should have been goals up in the first quarter. In the end we were most unfortunate not to come away with at least a point. I think we are one of the few teams that Linfield have not tanked this season so far and I want that to continue today. Like us Linfield will be fresh from a big Boxing Day derby with Glentoran at The Oval. Whatever the outcome of that they will want to push on and collect another three points today in their quest for the title. But we will want to have something to say about that.

If we can reproduce the form that we have shown away from home in the first half of the campaign, I am confident that Glenavon will once again be playing football in the Premier League next season. That would conclude the first stage of the re-building programme at Mourneview Park and enable me to move on to the next level.

I hope you will have enjoyed a very good Christmas and I wish all of you and your families a prosperous, happy and peaceful year in 2006.

Thank you all for your support.

9th December: I have to say that I was very disappointed to lose against Glentoran. We dominated the game for long periods without getting any rewards for our efforts. A combination of missed chances up front, a fluke goal conceded in the first half and bad defending in the second, ensured the champions got three points despite not playing well. Some would say the sign of a good team. However it says it all that Pete and all the players and staff shared my disappointment that we got nothing from this game.

I was very impressed with two of their youngsters who are full time now, Gary Browne and Phillip Simpson. Glentoran and Linfield are setting the pace by moving closer to full time football. This is something that I would like to see replicated at Mourneview Park in the future. But we must walk before we can run and the priority for Glenavon FC is to maintain premiership football for next season. At almost the half way stage the lads are doing just that.

Most of the injuries we have had recently have cleared up with the exception of Robbie Farrell. He has had a mystery knee injury for some time now. We are awaiting the results of his MRI scan. Let’s hope it’s not serious and he can resume training and get back in the squad soon. We did pick up a couple of knocks in last Monday’s reserve game but I’m hopeful that all will be available tonight.

Tonight we host Armagh City managed by former Glenavon favourite Colly Malone. Colly has built up a strong and skilful side since moving to Armagh and you won’t need reminding that City won both league meetings last season in Division 1. It’s a local derby and will be a battle to the finish. A difficult game to win but if we are to maintain our position we need to do just that. Three points tonight are a must to keep us on track for a mid table position.

The transfer window will open soon and I intend to strengthen the panel for the second half of the league competition. I have a number of players in mind who have the qualities to improve the depth of the squad and I will make a determined effort to bring all or some of them to Glenavon.

Thank you for your support. I know you will get behind the lads tonight.

26th November: I have been encouraged by our performances over the last number of weeks. Two away wins against Newry City and Institute, a draw at Coleraine Showgrounds and a draw at home to Cliftonville, coming from behind twice in this game, are all very creditable. However, we must start to convert a greater percentage of the chances we create and we must do that starting today. Having said that, the effort, work rate and application of the players, both in training and in games, is tremendous.

Last week our reserves game against Institute was postponed so I arranged for them to play the youth team, ensuring that players coming back from injury, and those not used at Drumahoe, got a game. The reserves team manager, Brendan Grimes, gave me a good report on the game and Paul Evans, Garth Walsh and Stevie McAlorum all came through with flying colours.

Today we entertain Glentoran and this game presents us with a huge challenge. The champions, by all accounts, are not playing to their full potential at the moment. But you only have to look at their recent record, lying second in the premier league at present, in the final of the CIS Insurance Cup and unbeaten so far this season tells the real tale. It certainly will be a difficult game for us but we are up for the challenge, and hopefully our unbeaten record in November will remain intact. I worked alongside Roy Coyle for a long time, first at Ards and then later at Glentoran and it is well known that he demands the highest of standards from all his players at all times. The Glentoran teams, both present and past, have been renowned for their footballing ability and their capacity to entertain. The current Glenavon team can certainly play football and will not be overawed by reputations. I hope the supporters of both clubs will leave today content that they have seen a good game of football with, of course, Glenavon taking all three points. You, the Glenavon supporters, also have your part to play. So get behind the players and let them hear you, just as you have been doing at recent games.

Thank you for your support.

12th November: The injury list over the last number of games has been quite frightening. We have had Aidan McVeigh, Paul Evans, Paul McKnight, Gerard McMahon, Garth Walsh, Robbie Farrell, Neal Gawley and Paul Carville out for a variety of reasons. Stevie McAlorum has been long term but is now making steady progress. The training routine has been stepped up and physio’ Alan Quinn has been working overtime to ensure we get the players back as soon as possible. We are now getting back to something approaching a full squad with Paul McKnight and Paul Evans playing for our reserves last Saturday. Garth Walsh, however, remains a concern with a suspected hernia and Robbie Farrell saw a specialist last week to identify a problem in his knee. Both will be checked out again this weekend.

Last week, against Coleraine, I thought the team did very well without coming away with full points. The home team won the first half in terms of possession without hurting us very much, although Andy McDonald made two outstanding saves. In the second half we were very much in command and had a number of chances to win it, but luck and David O’Hare, in brilliant form, and deservedly the October player of the month, made sure that we didn’t.

We have now played six league games and sit in mid table and that is an encouraging position as far as I am concerned. The team is very much encouraged to play football and long may that continue. What worries me however is that our opponents come to Mourneview Park and like it! Why? It’s because of the superb facilities etc. But so long as we keep giving them a hard time, in terms of performances and getting results, then I shouldn’t mind too much.

Today we entertain Cliftonville, a team I managed a number of years ago. They are always hard to beat and have, in their manager, Eddie Patterson, the October manager of the month. Eddie, being a former player of mine, will have his team fired up for today’s encounter intending to continue their successful run. My players will have something to say about that. I know it will be a tough game but with the same resolve we showed in our last two matches we will get the right result.

Thanks again for your support which was superb at Coleraine and Newry.

22nd October: The game last week against Ards was memorable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it provided us with our first home win of the season. Secondly, it was our first ‘clean sheet’ of the season. Thirdly and most importantly, I thought the approach, attitude and determination of the players was superb. Every single player played his heart out and it was clear for all to see that they care about wearing the Glenavon shirt. The build-up play and execution of Kieran O’Connor’s goal was excellent.

I have to say also that the players have been working very hard in training and having to play with ten men for 60 minutes against another Premier team and win was no mean feat. Unfortunately, there were a couple of negatives, in that Johnny Montgomery and I were dismissed from the game, albeit for different reasons.

In Johnny’s case I am content that he made an honest challenge for the ball, but was a tiny bit late. Obviously he will not be available for today’s game, but these things happen and we have to get on with it. In my case there is no excuse for verbals against match officials but in the heat of the moment things get said, particularly when one assistant was more interested in where the team physio, Alan Quinn, was standing, rather than concentrating on the game. However, we won the game and that is the most important thing.

On the injury front, Paul Evans is coming on nicely; Paul McKnight has had an injection in his ankle and trained this week; Neal Gawley and Garth Walsh, whilst on the bench last week, were not just 100%, but both trained hard this week and are available.

The game today against Loughgall will be a difficult one as they recorded an excellent result against what on paper looked like a very strong Ballymena team. Jim Gardiner will be bringing his team to Mourneview in confident mood and we will again need to be at our very best to collect all three points.

Once again, you the supporters really got behind the team last week and provided lots of vocal encouragement and we saw how that helps our performance on the pitch. Please keep it up.

15th October: Since writing the programme notes for our last home game against Dungannon Swifts we have won four points from six and that’s encouraging. The game was difficult and I can see Dungannon finishing in the top five. I was impressed that, after going a goal behind, we kept our focus and equalised. That showed my players have character and play for the shirt.

Last week we played a very strong and physical Lisburn Distillery team who made a number of significant summer signings in Sean Armstrong, Andy Kilmartin and Damien McLaughlin. We had a number of players unavailable but the players who came in and the rest of the team gave it their all and got their rewards by getting all three points. The winning goal from Shea Campbell was something special and I hope that gives him a boost to go on a run and score on a regular basis. What also pleases me is that I have competition for every position in the team and a number of players are versatile enough to play in other positions. Young Stephen Carroll is doing well in the reserves and his performances should keep Andy McDonald on his toes. I have to say that the save Andy made late in the game last week was outstanding and played its part in helping us secure the win.

Marty Verner passed a fitness test before our last game but pulled up on forty minutes. At the time of writing we still have a number of fitness doubts but I will be monitoring the situation right up to kick off time for today’s game.

A lot of people have been suggesting that Ards might struggle a bit this year, but not me. They have an experienced, enthusiastic and committed management team and players like Marty Hunter and Raymond Campbell who have performed at the highest level and will be difficult for us to handle. However, we have made a reasonable start to this Premier League campaign and I expect the team that I put out today to continue that trend. I know that if we continue to work hard and seize our chances we will be a handful for any team.

Your support has been tremendous and is a big boost to the players. The vocals at our last game spurred the players on and we will need more of the same today.

20th September: The result at Windsor Park on Saturday, against Linfield, in the first game of the Premier League, was really hard to take. The players had trained and worked really hard all week and we felt we had prepared very well for the game. Any team going to Windsor Park, to play the potential champions, is undoubtedly going to have a hard time, as Linfield is strong in every department. However, I was proud of the players again for the way in which they went about their job. It was never our intention to sit back and invite them on. There is no doubt that, at times, we were under pressure defensively for periods in the first half. But we dealt with everything they threw at us and we certainly created more chances than they did. Eventually we scored and what a great goal it was from Marty Verner. But we are going to have to improve the chances created to scored goals ratio and ensure that we win games. In the second half Linfield had three chances and scored two of them which, after a really good performance, left us empty handed and deflated at the end of the game.

Tuesday night, against Newry City, is our last game in what has been, for us, a disappointing CIS Cup run as far as results go. But all is not doom and gloom as, overall, performances have been good and we are now well prepared for the Premier League campaign ahead. I will take the opportunity in this game to make changes in order to have a look at some players and give others a break.

On Saturday we entertain Dungannon Swifts who under Joe McAree have come on leaps and bounds since coming into the Premier League. It is going to be a very tough game but we are prepared. I notice that my friend Kevin Keegan has been doing particularly well since his transfer from Glentoran. I hope we can bring an end to his recent run of good form and goal scoring.

I met a lot of our supporters after our last home game against Ballymena United and I was very heartened by their good wishes, commitment and enthusiasm for the team.

10th September: To say that I was disappointed by the results in our last four CIS Cup games would be a gross under estimation of my true feelings. I said at the start of the competition that, arguably, this group, Glenavon, Portadown, Ballymena United and Newry City, was the toughest of the lot and, unfortunately from our perspective, that’s just how it has turned out. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as Pete and I have been very encouraged by some of the football played in recent games. On other days, with just a slice of luck, we could have taken something from them.

We are very pleased with the effort the players are putting in, both at training and during games, and we are all working hard to be at our best as we approach the start of the league programme. I watched our reserves play against Portadown reserves last week and again I was impressed with the organisation and also the individual skill of some of our young lads. Whilst I will be interested in developing and adding to the first team squad with experienced players, I feel it is very important that we have the right system in place to ensure that we attract the best young players to Glenavon.

Last Tuesday we played a friendly game against Dromore Amateurs. This provided me with another opportunity to have a look at some of the players who have been out in recent weeks. It was also a very useful preparation for today’s game against Ballymena United. On the same night a reserve selection had a game against Knockbreda Parish.

I played for, and managed Ballymena United and I know from experience that they are always a well-organised outfit. The recent appointment of Tommy Wright will make them a formidable force as they strive to cement their place in the top levels of the Premier League. In this competition, at Ballymena, I felt we pushed them all the way but I was disappointed in our second half performance that night. I’m hoping we can go that little bit extra today and collect all three points. That would set us up nicely for the first game in the Premier League Championship against Linfield next Saturday.

If we continue to create the number of chances that we have been doing over recent weeks I am confident that sooner rather than later the tide will turn and we will be celebrating our first win.

20th August 2005: First of all may I say that I am delighted to have been appointed manager of Glenavon Football Club. This club has a great history and it is my intention to bring back some of the glory times of the past with the help of you the supporters. I have been fortunate to have had a fairly successful time as a player, manager and assistant manager over the years and as you know I enjoyed an unrivalled period of success with Roy Coyle at Glentoran over the last eight years.

However, that is now very much in the past and I’m looking forward to working with the players, directors, backroom staff and my assistant Pete Batey, to ensure, first and foremost, that Glenavon remain in the Premier League this season. Make no mistake, it will be a hard season for us all and I would urge all our supporters to get fully behind the team in all the games and provide as much vocal support as possible. Indeed, I have been very encouraged so far with the letters and phone calls from supporters who wanted to pass on their good wishes to the players and myself for the season ahead.

On the playing side, Gary Clifford, Chris Deegan, Gareth Murray and Tony McShane have moved on and Shea Campbell, Robbie Farrell and Conor Walsh have been signed. I have brought in Pete Batey to be my assistant as he is a guy who, like me, gives 100% in everything he does and we had a good working relationship at Glentoran.

Last week at Newry I was encouraged by our application, commitment and enthusiasm, but disappointed that we did not get something from the game. However, it is early days yet and we will continue to work hard in training to improve things.

Today we have a tasty local derby against Portadown, current Irish Cup holders, who have quality in all positions and are managed superbly by Ronnie McFall and his assistant, Kieran Harding. This will be a real test for my players as they work to adjust again to the pace and technique of Premier League football. So get behind the lads and give them the lift to help them collect their first points in the CIS cup.

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