danske-logoOn Saturday we visit Seaview, the home of the newly-crowned Dankse Bank Premiership Champions Crusaders for the last league game of the season and what a season it has turned out to be for Glenavon fans. Andy McGrory’s dramatic last-minute penalty earned third place, qualification for Europe for a second season in a row and extended Glenavon’s winning run to seven games in succession.

Tomorrow Crusaders will be presented with the Gibson Cup and we’d like to congratulate everyone at Seaview on their wonderful achievement.

Sadly tomorrow will be William ‘Winkie’ Murphy’s last game before he retires from football after a marvellous career in which he won every trophy going with Linfield before ending his career on a high note with Glenavon, having picked up an Irish Cup winner’s medal last season and helping secure that important Europa League spot this season. During those two years Murphy, who will lead the Lurgan Blues out tomorrow, made a total of 53 appearances and scored four goals, including a goal on his debut in a 3-6 win against Ballymena United at the Showgrounds. Maybe he’ll chip in with another goal tomorrow 😀

William Murphy celebrates scoring on his Glenavon debut. Photo Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

William Murphy celebrates scoring on his Glenavon debut. Photo Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

“It’s Winkie’s day tomorrow,” Gary Hamilton told the website on Friday. “Wherever he’s played be it at Ards or Linfield and with us, he’s been a credit to himself and his family. He’s never let us down and he brought that winning mentality to the changing room and he’s passed that on to the younger lads. Maybe it’s no coincidence that since he left Linfield they’ve won nothing and we’ve won the Irish Cup and qualified for Europe through the league for the first time.

“He wanted to retire at the end of last season but I persuaded him to stay on, more to help the younger lads and I’m so happy he’s going out on a high tomorrow,” the Glenavon boss concluded.

Gary had intended giving some of the younger lads a game tomorrow but Andrew Drylie has injured his groin, Mark Sykes is on trial with Fleetwood in a game against Liverpool and Matty Lynch has been away with a NI Under-16 Development squad in the Faroes so it will be a strong Glenavon side as he tries to keep that winning streak going to the very last game.