Introduction | Fixtures | Rules | Running Order | Match Reports | Photos

 

Monday 22nd August

Saturday night saw the end of the Spar sponsored Twilight football programme at the Valley Leisure Centre. The night brought a series of shocks but no drop in the standard of football played by the teams. Whiteabbey the unarguable stars of the tournament registered their first win in a 13-8 victory over Mossley Presbyterian. Mossley youth where surprisingly defeated by Rathcoole who beat them convincingly 20-9.

 

As soon as the games had been completed the prize winners were announced and presented with their prizes.

 

Prize winners were as follows:

 

Overall winner - Mossley youth

Leading goal scorer - James McKinney

Player with most potential - Martin Coyle

Player of the tournament - Aaron Lindsay

 

All players and coaches received a commemorative medal to mark their participation in the event kindly supplied by the PSNI.

 

 

The event was not just a resounding success for the teams involved but 18th Newtownabbey have attracted more than 5 players to their ranks. The PSNI have noted a definite decrease in antisocial behaviour over the six weeks and the community groups and leaders have developed links and friendships over the summer.

 

The event would not have been such a success if it had not been for the partnership between all the youth groups, Newtownabbey Community safety partnership, 18th Newtownabbey FC, Newtownabbey Borough Council’s parks department, PSNI, Newtownabbey Borough Council’s sport and play department and last and certainly not least the lead sponsor Spar.

 

---

 

Monday 15th August

With only 5 games left to play over the next two weeks the Spar sponsored twilight football tournament is nearing to an end but the standard of play and friendship between the teams is still increasing in what has been a fantastic event and a success for all involved. It has taken to the 5th week and no one was sure if it would happen but tonight we had the first draw between Rathcoole and Mossley youth who fought out an epic 7 all draw. This didn’t deter either side who went on to register big wins in their next game, Rathcoole against Whiteabbey and Mossley youth closer to home against their neighbours Mossley Presbyterian.

 

All games were played without incident and all the teams and organisers left happy and looking forward to the final week.

---

 

Monday 8th August

With the twilight football programme supported by Spar, just going over half way the standard of football certainly hasn’t diminished and the night saw an incredible 191 goals scored.. it was also a night for surprises with Mossley youth’s unbeaten run coming to an end at the hands of Elmfield in a closely contested game. All games where played in the spirit of fair play and all players left tired but eagerly waiting the final two weeks and the business end of the tournament.

---

 

Monday 1st August

Week three of the spar sponsored Twilight football programme was without a shadow of a doubt ladies night as the girls in the Mossley teams stole the show with some outstanding performances and some stunning examples of finishing from Kanisha Gillanders and teaching the boys a thing or two in the process. The night saw yet another team make their debut in the tournament with Whiteabbey B making their first appearance.

 

All games where tightly fought affairs but Mossley youth again showed their class with some outstanding performances scoring an incredible fifty seven goals in just three games.

 

Rathcoole again performed well and showed some class but where slightly unlucky in a few games.

 

Leading the scoring charts is James McKinney having scored a fantastic 46 goals.

 

All games where again played in the spirit of sportsmanship and all teams left tired but happy after their efforts.

 

Player of the week was the hardest decision to date and rather than pick out an individual the players of the week award goes to the girls in the Mossley youth team for leading the way and showing the boys a thing or two!

 

 

More photos on our photos page

 

---

 

Monday 23rd July

Saturday night saw the second of the twilight football programme at the Valley Leisure Centre sponsored by SPAR. Again numbers where high and there was the welcome addition of the Rathcoole team who showed exactly why it has a tradition for being a hotbed of football with some outstanding performances. The games this week were closer affairs with no runaway wins but all games where free flowing with some excellent football being played. Without doubt the game of the tournament so far, saw Elmfield line up against Rathcoole. In a hard but fair game Rathcoole ran out 15, 13 winner. Both teams were a credit to their area with their sportsmanship and overall conduct.

 

The night saw Ross Mackin again scoring freely and finished with a total of 9 which was exceptional considering how close all the games where.

 

Man of the night was Rathcoole’s Aaron Lindsay with some outstanding performances and all who say him play are certain that he has a long future in the sport.

 

All left tired but happy and looking forward to next week’s fixtures.

 

 

More photos on our photos page

 

---

 

Monday 18th July

Saturday night saw the start of the twilight football programme at the Valley Leisure Centre sponsored by SPAR. Community groups from all over the Borough turned up for a festival of football and there was no shortage of footballing talent on show with goals raining in from all areas of the zest soccer pitches. The night got off to a blistering start with Whiteabbey’s Declan Loughran scoring a wonder goal with a volley from the half way line. This just opened the floodgates and Elmfield started the night by scoring eighteen against strong opposition in Mossley Presbyterian. Mossley soon got their revenge in their final game by scoring an amazing twenty three again then unbeaten Monkstown B. At the end of the night the scoring chart was led by Robbie Francey on fifteen closely followed by Wesley Patterson and Kyle Blaine on thirteen and Ross Walker on twelve.

 

All games were played in the spirit of fair play and the night saw no yellow or red cards from the referees.

 

But without a shadow of a doubt the man of the night was Whiteabbey’s Martin Coyle who lived up to his Barcelona shirt and was the nights Lionel Messi with star performances in all three of his games. If this wasn’t enough he showed that he’s a potential Andre Villas Boas in the making with his sideline management skill. All players had a fantastic night and left looking forward to next week where it’s sure the total of 175 goals will no doubt be eclipsed.