Glenavon FC News

The draw for the Glenavon Lottery on Monday 28th September produced 10 ‘Match 3′ winners but no player managed to scoop the Jackpot which will be £1700 in next week’s draw, Monday 5th October.

You can now purchase Glenavon Home and Away Shirts in Adult and Children’s sizes plus the popular Glenavon Polo Shirt, available in Blue or White, all from the convenience of your desktop by visiting the Glenavon Club Shop on-line at www.glenavonshop.com

More items will be added to the on-line store soon.

At the launch of Glenavon FC "Who wants to be a Thousandaire" were representatives of sponsors Wilson Conservation Homes, Clubworld Travel, National Windscreens, Alan Brown & Co, and Spar. Included are Glenavon manager, Marty Quinn and Vice Chairman, Hubert Watson.

Glenavon’s exciting new fund-raising venture ‘Who Wants to be a Thousandaire’ was officially launched in the Bedeck Suite at Mourneview Park tonight. Radio Ulster’s Alan Simpson kept everyone in stitches as he hosted the launch which was attended by the Mayor of Craigavon Mrs Meta Crozier, Jack Grundie, Chairman of the IFA Carling Premiership Management Committee, Glenavon manager Marty Quinn, his back room staff and several first team players, the Club’s main sponsors Bedeck as well as representatives of the major sponsors for the ‘Thousandaire’ event, the Club Directors and the organising teams.

Joan Mulholland, Colin Atkinson and Simon Brown of Alan Brown & Co Insurance at the launch of Glenavon Football Club's "Who wants to be a Thousandaire?"

The ‘Who Wants to be a Thousandaire’ gameshow in aid of Glenavon Football Club, promoted by Pallas Marketing, will take place in the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown on Friday 6th November at 8pm. The format of the show is similar to the well known TV gameshow, with 8 lucky members of the audience having the chance to answer a sequence of 12 questions correctly to earn themselves a cool £1000 prize. The familiar sound and light show with ‘Phone a Friend’, ’50/50′ and ‘Ask the Audience’  ensures that everyone has a fun and enjoyable evening! Tickets, costing £10, are available from the Office at Mourneview Park or any committee member.

Glenavon's Trevor Harper with the representatives of sponsors 'Spar', Susan from Loughview Spar and Jamie from Glenavy Spar

Ten teams, each consisting of three members; a blend of directors and supporters, have been working hard for several months to secure eight major sponsors for the event and a large number of advertisers. The major sponsors are Alan Brown & Company Insurance, Avondale Foods (Craigavon) Ltd., The Carling Premiership, Clubworld Travel, National Windscreens, Hunky Dory’s (Northern Snack Foods), Spar and Wilsons Conservation Homes.

Glenavon Chairman Adrian Teer set out the ambitious plans for developments at Mourneview Park, including the Club’s Soccer Strategy Programme that will see a new frontage for the ground, additional toilet facilities, a CCTV system and improved Press facilities. Plans are also in hand to upgrade the floodlights and the Stadia Safety Programme will see improvements to the Glenfield Road and Crescent End stands.

Generous grants from Sport NI and the IFA will be forthcoming for these important developments but the Club must fund a percentage of the costs. This, together with the ongoing costs of running the club on a day to day basis, means that sponsorship and fund-raising events by Supporters Clubs, the Fund-raising Committee and new initiatives such as this are a vital and on-going component of the Club’s income stream.

Glenavon Vice Chairman Hubert Watson with Joanne Ryans, Denise Quinn and Claire Mulligan of Clubworld Travel at the launch of "Who wants to be a Thousandaire?".

Mr Teer thanked everyone involved with fund-raising for the Club and he is confident that the ‘Thousandaire’ evening has the potential to be the largest single fund-raising event in the Club’s history.

The number of tickets is strictly limited so make sure you buy yours as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Glenavon manager Marty Quinn buys the first ticket for Glenavon's "Who wants to be a Thousandaire?" from Mayor of Craigavon, Meta Crozier. Looking on are Jack Grundie (Chairman, Carling IFA Premiership Management Committee), Alan Simpson and Adrian Teer.

Marty’s View (Audio)

Marty Quinn got his pre-match wish: a clean sheet and a one-nil win and, most importantly, the three points, thanks to an improved second half performance by his Glenavon side.

Kevin Ramsey battles with Glenavon's Mark Gracey. Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

There was not much to write home about in a dull first half with few chances for either side. Kevin Ramsey had the clearest opportunity when he saw his 3rd minute shot pushed away by Andy Plummer for a corner. Trevor Molloy had Glenavon’s only real effort in the first half and that was an 18 yard shot that Cullen watched roll harmlessly wide.

Paul Brown’s turn and shot, helped by a slip by Jay Magee, was held easily by Plummer in the 15th minute while Divin’s shot from wide on the left flashed wide.

Austin Friel had the first effort of the second half when Brown chested down Divin’s cross but the little winger fired over from just inside the box in the 48th minute. Shea Campbell’s drive almost produced an o.g. from ‘Og’, as David Ogilby deflected it just wide for a corner. Cullen pulled off a fantastic save from the resulting Paul Carvill corner as Tony Grant headed powerfully at the far post. McDonagh’s powerful drive then forced Cullen into a good save to tip the ball over the bar.

McDonagh sidefooted wide in the 58th minute when Molloy’s cross picked him out in a good position.

Trevor Molloy put the Lurgan Blues ahead on the hour mark with a rare headed goal. A brilliant through ball by Campbell released Costello on the right wing and he crossed to the far post for Molloy to head downwards past Cullen. Costello then set up Tony Grant but Cullen saved well from the resulting shot.

Trevor Molloy celebrates his goal with Tony Grant. Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

‘Stute skipper Ruairi Boyle went close in the 80th minute when he fired just over the bar after good hold-up play by Ramsey in the Glenavon box. Four minutes later Costello did well only to see his shot blocked for a corner and Campbell then powered forward with the ball and unleashed a shot that hit the base of the post as Cullen dived full length to his left.

Ramsey could have snatched a late equaliser but his 90th minute shot across goal went wide of the post. In the end Glenavon’s second half performance was enough to earn the three points with a solid defensive display by Mark Gracey and Jay Magee negating the threat posed by the power of Brown and Ramsey.

Jay Magee sticks tight to Kevin Ramsey. Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

Teams:

Institute: Cullen, Wray, Holmes, McLaughlin, Friel, Ogilby, Friars, Boyle (c), Ramsey, Brown, Divin (Blackburn 61). Subs not used: Crown, McMenamin, Ryan, McFadden.

Glenavon: Plummer, Campbell, Magee, Walsh (c), Grant, Molloy, McDonagh, Carvill, Gracey, Costello, Harpur. Subs not used: Harper, Murray, King, Haughey, Liggett.

Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)

Tony Grant scored the winner against Dungannon last week. Photo Mark Pearce/Presseye.com

Tony Grant is suffering from a stomach upset that prevented him from training on Thursday but he is still keen to play if at all possible. Tony’s condition will be assessed before tomorrow’s game and Gary Liggett will be on standby if he is unable to play. Jay Magee and Mark Gracey, who are both recovered from minor knocks picked up last Saturday, are fit for the visit to Drumahoe.

“I watched Institute earn a draw at The Oval on Wednesday night”, Marty Quinn told us this afternoon, “and they are a big side with strengths in certain areas. We came away with a 1-1 draw on our last trip there and we’re hoping to go one better this time. If we can get the ball down and play we can do well but we must defend better than we have been doing. We need to stop conceding so many goals and it would be lovely if we could grind out a 1-0 win!” joked the Mourneview Park boss.