Page 1 (1928-1946) | Page 2 (1946-1969) | Second Leg | "I Was There" | Competition Results

POST WAR (1946-1957)

Post-War Ballymena United, pictured in 1949

Ballymena United did not return to the League until 1946/1947, when they returned to the Belfast & District League for one season, before the Irish League reformed the following year. United’s squad was built up, only to be released by Bob McKay in 1947. The replacements beat Linfield 2-0 in the County Antrim Shield Final - bringing their first trophy other than the Irish Cup to the Showgrounds.

A third place finish that season had many believing that United would pick up where they left off, becoming the biggest provincial side in the country; Having been the first team outside of Belfast to win the County Antrim Shield. However, a series of poor seasons was stopped in 1951 with the club’s second County Antrim Shield – beating Cliftonville 2-0.

Despite the fact that the Irish League had not left Celtic Park between 1936 and 1948; Belfast Celtic were forced to leave the Irish League and Ballymena benefited by grabbing some of their talented players, including a new player-manager Billy McMillan. McMillan was replaced by the experienced Walter Rickett after two seasons. United reached the Irish Cup Final in 1951, only to be beaten by Glentoran 3-1 at Windsor Park, with their only goal coming from Currie.

The following season, Ballymena United won the Festival of Britain Cup, beating Crusaders 3-0 at Solitude. The one-off competition was played in 1952 to coincide with the Festival celebrations throughout Great Britain, and the trophy still resides at the Showgrounds.

However, after this victory United went through another bleak period in the mid 1950’s as United finished bottom of the league twice. In 1955 the club was forced to launch an appeal to clear its mounting debts - the Ballymena people responded - debts were paid and a small amount was left over to go into the club's coffers.

NEW BEGINNING (1957-1969)

Ballymena United 1958 Irish Cup Winners.

In 1957, Scottish born Alex McCrae took over as player-manager of Ballymena United – he had been a successful inside-forward for Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough in his playing days. He brought instant success to the Braid, as Ballymena finished third and won the Irish Cup in 1957/1958.

The 1958 Irish Cup winning team was deemed one of the best Ballymena United teams ever to grace the Showgrounds, as they deservedly beat Jackie Milburn’s Linfield in the showpiece final – with McGhee and Russell scoring the goals in a 2-0 win at the Oval in front of 24,000 spectators.

The next year, with another impressive team marched onto another Irish Cup final (their eighth final); the Sky Blues were expected to beat Glenavon in a Windsor Park final. However United's bad luck struck again as they failed to beat Glenavon, only drawing 1-1 and were defeated 2-0 in the replay.

Former Liverpool legend, Geoff Twentyman, then came along as manager and brought the Ulster Cup to the Showgrounds in 1960 with a 3-1 win over Glenavon. Barr grabbed two final goals while McKinstry picked up the other. The following season, the Sky Blues were only two points away from winning the Irish League for the first time – finishing third in 1961/1962.

Twentyman's success did not continue and he was replaced in time by George Smyth, Dave Hickson, Alex Parker, and Dave Hickson again. Despite this hunt for success manager after manager failed, as the Braidmen constantly finished mid-table in the Irish League, with only one trophy in the 1960’s. McCrae was then brought back to end another period of failure at the Warden Street Showgrounds.

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