We have just learned from our Manager Gary Hamilton that Eugene McFarland, the father of his partner Faye, sadly passed away in Altnagelvin Hospital at 4:30 this afternoon following an accident in his home on Sunday.

“He’s somebody that meant a lot to me and my sympathies to Kathy, Faye and Julian, and Stevie and Rory who were like step-sons to him. It’s a tough time for the family, a tough time for everybody. Since Faye and I got together he’s been to a lot of Glenavon games and in fact he became something of a lucky charm for us as we never lost a game while he was watching. I used to joke that I would send a car to bring him to the matches and bring him back home again. In all the games he saw us we only drew one game and won the rest.

“It ended up that Glenavon meant a lot to him and he loved coming to the games. He was at the Irish Cup semi-finals and the finals and he became ‘one of us’ and he was one hell of a man who loved his sport, loved his family, loved his singing in the choir.

“The one good thing that has come out of it all in a really positive way is the family has just been told that he has saved two other people’s lives by organ donations.”

On behalf of everyone at Glenavon Football Club, we extend our deepest condolences to Eugene’s family and friends at this very sad time.