|
 |
|
 | |
 |
|
CHAMPIONS! Where the headlines as United claimed their first ever league Championship, as they ran away with the First Division title. Ciaran Feehan's goal against Distillery in March 1997, sealed Alan Fraser's side the title having led from start to finish. They won a remarkable 21 of their 28 games, and finished a massive 15 points clear of their nearest rivals. Alan Fraser's side also nearly made it a 'double', as they lost on penalties in the final of the County Antrim Shield to Cliftonville. After the first game had been abandoned as referee, Alan Snoddy, was struck my a missile from the Cliftonville support. Another impressive run in the Sun Life Gold Cup also expressed the quality of this Ballymena side, as they lost out to Linfield at the semi-final stage. There were, however, early exits in the Ulster Cup and Floodlit Cup to Crusaders and Glenavon, respectively. An embarassing opening day exit in the League Cup against Dungannon Swifts didn't set the tone for the rest of the season thankfully, the Sky Blues also went out to Sligo Rovers early on in the Irish News Cup. Dessie Loughery and Ciaran Feehan shared the top goalscorer accolade with 16 goals apiece, and ... made the most appearances in Ballymena's historic championship season.
Click for more information... Full list of Fixtures and Results for 1996/1997 Full list of Player Appearances Full list of Goalscorers Final Smirnoff Irish League First Division table Final Gold Cup group standings Honours: Irish League First Division Winners 1996/97 Honours: County Antrim Shield Finalists 1996/97 Season Records Final League Position - 1st (from 8) Total games played - 45
Biggest home win - 4-1 v. Ballyclare Comrades - 16-Nov-96 (League)
Biggest home defeat - 2-4 v. Sligo Rovers - 03-Dec-96 (Irish News Cup)
Total players used - 23
Leading goalscorer (all competitions) - Ciaran Feehan and Dessie Loughery (16 goals each)
|
