From Simon (the bloke who updates the website)
From time to time i receive emails from fans, both Moyola Park FC and the opposing sides, thoughts, views, and other bits and pieces, most of which is replied to by myself, or forwarded to the committee. Whilst updating the MP web site on a regular basis can be a tad time consuming, i always wanted to post some of these emails on the web site, as some reflect the true meaning of what sport is all about. Sadly, i never found the time. That is …. until now. These comments were not sent to me on a personal basis, but to Moyola Park FC as a whole, i believe they should be shared with you, the readers. These are the one that escaped the wrath of the guestbook and ended up in the Moyola Park email box!
Sunday April 1st 2001
“Unlucky yesterday lads (Moyola drew 3-3 with Cookstown Utd the previous day), I’d like to congratulate Dwayne on his first appearance for Moyola. I hope that our fans enjoyed the game and as I’m sure you’ll agree we should have won the game in the end, we’ve got plenty to play for yet. It was good to see Ollie at the match and I wish him a speedy recovery. Good luck for Tuesday night.
Aaron Stewart”
Sunday 27th May 2001
“Dear Sirs
May I first of all congratulate Moyola Football Club for a great season this year.
As well as winning the North West Intermediate Cup on Boxing Day, Moyola Park has finished as runners up in both the Irish Football League Second Division and the Belfast Telegraph Intermediate Cup. Taken in conjunction with reaching Round Seven of the Nationwide Irish Cup and losing to Dundela in the Semi Final of the Smirnoff Cup it has been a successful season by comparison with most clubs.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
And indeed yourselves for an excellent website.
And may I wish you all the best for next season.
Regards, Paul Holmes
(a Dundela supporter).”
27 June 2001
“I see a suggestions invitation; why don’t you consider digging out some Garvin Cup highlights from the old days? You could get a lot of mileage out of people’s memories…
I was there the night Moyola won it – probably the summer of ’66. I didn’t know at the time but I was supposed to be playing that night for Chemstrand / Monsanto in the Coleraine Works League in a title decider – bad communications!.
I remember charity games in Moyola Park: there was a challenge match once between the League & cup winners – Glenavon won the cup 5:0 against Linfield if my memory isn’t playing tricks – I don’t know the year (mid 50’s).
I remember a charity match including some of the 1958 world cup squad. I can only recall Harry Gregg and Wilber Cush. Harry got tired letting in goals & went up front – those were the days when a body could go on at half-time & have a chin-wag. I remember Cushie tapping the turf (it was a lovely summer’s evening & they were lying around) saying to the others “this is the best surface I have ever played on. Funny the daft things you remember!!
As I say there must be some mileage there…
Best wishes
John K. Dawson”
Ballymoney United 0 – Moyola Park 3
Sam Shiels latched on to a Brian Hutchinson clearance in the fourth minute to notch the opening goal for Moyola Park. Fifteen minutes later Sam doubled his tally after good work by Ronan Rocks. Ballymoney lacked forward power but Brendan Kirgan was dominant in midfield for United. Hayden Leacock sealed the issue for Moyola Park with twenty-eight minutes left on the clock when he headed to the Ballymoney United net from ten yards. Moyola Park has made an excellent start to this season’s league campaign with four wins out of four. The next league fixture is a home game against Ballinamallard United on Saturday 8th September.
Moyola Park: Hutchinson, Quinn, McLaughlin, King, Stewart, Rocks, Cardwell, Leacock, Shiels, Cochrane, Larkin. Subs. Duffin, Storey, D. Junkin
Coleraine’s experienced central defender, John Devine, is expected to make a comeback, following recovery from a cruciate ligament injury, in Saturday’s North West Craig Memorial Intermediate First Round game for Coleraine Reserves against Moyola Park on Saturday 1st September, which has been switched from Coleraine Showgrounds to Moyola Park.
Moyola Park 3 – Tobermore United 1
Twelve minutes into the first half Harry Love pounced to score for Tobermore United when Moyola Park ‘keeper, Brian Hutchinson, failed to hold on to a shot. ‘Alfie’ Stewart kicked the ball off the Moyola Park line as Tobermore United pressed for a second, but it was a Ronan Rocks equalizer from fifteen yards that completed the first half scoring two minutes before the interval. Moyola Park dominated the play during the second half and it was no surprise when Noel Cardwell blasted the ball into the Tobermore United net from twelve yards, after 61 minutes. Sam Shiels completed the scoring seven minutes from the end of the game after a Chris Larkin shot had been parried by Tobermore United’s goalkeeper, Paul White. Moyola Park midfielder, Ciaran Mallon , was replaced by Alan Cochrane, when he sustained an ankle injury during the second half.
Moyola Park’s first round game in defence of the Craig Memorial North West Intermediate Cup next Saturday (1 September) against Coleraine Reserves has been switched from Coleraine Showgrounds to Moyola Park. The game has a 2.30pm kick off, with the winners gaining home advantage in a second round tie against last season’s runners-up, Dungiven on Saturday 15 September.