Bellaghy Town FC ready to go after absence of almost 40 years

A County Derry man is vowing to revive soccer in Bellaghy after an absence of almost 40 years.

During the 80s, the south Derry village formed Bellaghy FC but despite playing a few games, the team never developed beyond that.

Local man Ryan Campbell, a former youth player with Ballymena United, ‘fluttered’ with the idea of setting up a club in the area for many years however he never carried through with it.

Earlier this year, Ryan decided to push on with the plans to establish the new soccer club for the first time in Bellaghy’s history.

With the help of others, Bellaghy Town FC was formed and the team are now looking forward to kicking off their first season in less than two months' time.

“Growing up in Bellaghy I played soccer and GAA and I enjoyed both,” Ryan said.

“The GAA is a massive part of this town and I admire everything about it, the effort the people of Bellaghy put into the GAA here is remarkable.”

As a young boy, Ryan would make the 50 mile round trip to Ballymena for training and matches three times per week but he admits he often dreamed of having a similar set up in Bellaghy.

“I tried my best to play both (soccer and GAA) but like any young lad I dreamed of one day being a footballer and I had high hopes pinned on myself,” he continued.

“At that time I played at Ballymena United, it was a 50 mile round trip every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning but I never missed it. Their youth set up was brilliant and it helped me develop skills and become better. I even reached a Milk Cup during my time there too.

“I was very young at that time and when I left I always imagined having that sort of set up in my own home town, how amazing that could have been, not only for me, but the rest of the youth within the town.”

Having won silverware with various local clubs over the years, Ryan said the most pleasing thing to him was the joy it brought to the club and that is something he yearned for within his own community.

“I went straight into local soccer with a lot of my friends in nearby clubs, namely teams like Draperstown Celtic and Magherafelt Sky Blues. I won quite a bit of silverware and I loved it. The local football really struck a chord, the effort that went into running these soccer clubs from all ages and their joy when a trophy was won was something else, it was great seeing people giving back to their own community,” he continued.

Ryan Campbell pictured with Bellaghy Town FC's main sponsor Kieran Glackin of Glackin Electrics.

“I fluttered at the idea for some years about our very own set up in Bellaghy, a bit of history could possibly be created, but I just never carried it through.

“This year, I decided to take that step and get it up off the ground, and from all the help and support we have received it has been first class and now our club is just now over two months away from our very first season.

“We have just recently purchased our new kits from Outfield Clothing, our main club sponsor Glackin Electrics have been great in helping us, as well as our other sponsors Diamond Slice, Doc’s Bar and The Taphouse Bar and Restaurant."

Bellaghy Town FC recently held its first successful fundraiser for the new season which saw a great turnout of people, all keen to hear about the club’s plans for the future.

READ NEXT: 'At some stage, it can't be okay anymore' - Derry manager Tiernan Lynch

Ryan hopes one day that they will have their own grounds in Bellaghy and a youth set up.

“This is only the start for us as a club, we have a five year plan, we have a small committee and we will be working towards Bellaghy Town FC not only some day having their own soccer grounds here in Bellaghy but also having a girls and boys youth set up within that,” he said.

“It's a big community here and it's the future that matters the most, this can be very successful in Bellaghy, this town is full of talent and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve.”