Page 1 (1928-1946) | Page 2 (1946-1969) | Page 3 (1970-1978) | Page 4 (1979-1989) | Page 5 (1989-2008)

THE EARLY YEARS (1928-1934)

Ballymena FC; Irish Cup Winners 1929

BALLYMENA Football Club was formed in April 1928, when local businessmen and football enthusiasts decided that the town of Ballymena needed a senior football team in the Irish League.

The new club gathered together a number of players from the area and further a field and played their first competitive game on 20th August, 1928 in front of a packed Ballymena Showgrounds, against reigning Irish League champions Belfast Celtic. Ballymena lost this game 3-0.

However, five days later Ballymena gained their first point in a 2-2 away to Larne, whilst they won their first game a few weeks later beating Ards, 2-1, away from home. The Sky Blues finished a highly respectable 6th in the 14 team Irish League in their debut season, but it was the Irish Cup which saw the “Ballymena Babes” shine.

Defying all odds, they defeated Glentoran, Broadway United and Coleraine to reach the 1929 Irish Cup Final – where they met the mighty Belfast Celtic. However, the Braidside team prevailed to defeat Celtic at Solitude by two goals to one, to win the Irish Cup at the first attempt. Ballymena FC were presented with the Irish Cup trophy to keep as reward for winning the illustrious trophy in their first season – the trophy remains in the United board room to this day.

Ballymena were invited to play Scottish Cup winners Kilmarnock, in a glamour friendly, although despite losing this game – they had quickly established themselves as one of the best teams in the province. This game also saw the first official programme published by the club.

This was followed by two more Irish Cup Finals in the next two years, losing to Linfield twice first in 1930 (losing 4-3) and again in 1931 (this time losing 3-0). However, the Sky Blues were continually challenging in the Irish League finishing in the top six in all but one season for their first six years, up until 1934/1935.

LIQUIDATION , SUCCESS AND WAR (1934-1946)

The first Ballymena United team ahead of the 1934/1935 season.

The honeymoon period began to end after the early success, as in 1934 Ballymena FC were forced out of business by a remark made by the unfortunate Mr. Albert McClelland, who was reported to have said "Something has to be done to curb payments to amateurs."

Still playing at the Showgrounds with the same set of players, Ballymena United finished 10th in their first season in existence (1934/1935), but the following five years seen the difficulties continue on and off the pitch – as in 1937, they finished bottom of the 14 team league with only 4 wins in 26 games. Officially still United’s worst ever league campaign.

Despite record defeats to Belfast Celtic and Derry City in 1937 and 1938, the fortunes of the Braidmen began to pick up as they finished second in the league in the 1938/39 season and were finalists in the Irish Cup, losing 2-0 to Linfield – in which was their third final defeat to the Blues in the 1930’s.

However after the 'hungry thirties' finished United reached another Irish Cup Final in 1940 - this time facing Glenavon. United beat the Lurgan side, 2-0, to bring the trophy back to North Antrim for the first time in 11 years and four attempts.

After the victory in the Irish Cup, United gave up the Showgrounds for use by the military to assist in the war effort, as the Second World War had recently kicked off in Europe. United were promised re-entry to the Irish League after the war. However, it was to be a number of years before senior football could return to the town.

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