Drumaness Mills F.C.
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Drumaness F.C. are a Northern Irish football club based in Drumaness, near Ballynahinch , playing in the NAFL Premier Division of the Northern Amateur Football league.
Drumaness Mills Football Club have been members of the Northern Ireland Amateur League since its formation in 1929. The Club Started in the second division finishing runners up in 1931/32. They are in fact one of the oldest clubs in the league.
Due to the war, the team left the league in 1941, but re-joined in 1950 for a short period, but were to return for good in 1954.
Today, the team has one of the best grounds and facilities in the league, with the newly developed club house situated behind the pitch.
Drumaness Mills Football Club - Short History
The village of Drumaness is nestled in the rolling drumlins of Co. Down, just a short distance off the main Belfast to Newcastle road. Once the towering chimney of the flax spinning mill stood out on the landscape and it was the location where many of the community plied their talents in the spinning of flax into yarn. The mill was built in 1850 by William Davidson in partnership with Thomas Chermside of Belfast and was once described as "like a great ship stranded in the middle of the rolling countryside".
Drumaness Mills Football Club known locally as "The Mills" have been in membership of the Northern Amateur League since its formation in 1929. They started in the Second Division, finishing runners-up in 1931/32. They are in fact once of the oldest clubs in membership of the League.
While the demand for Irish linen declined and the Mill was finally closed (and then knocked down in 1985), the local soccer club still kept the name alive. They were first known as Drumaness but then added Mills to their title, as the Mill owners took a keep interest.
Due to war time difficulties they left the League 1941 and rejoined in 1950 for a short period but came back for good in 1954, stepping up from the Second Division and maintaining intermediate status ever since.
Records show that "The Mills" had to wait more than 30 years for their first trophy, the Division 1B Athletics Stores Cup won in the 1960/61 season. They have won five First Division titles and finished runners-up three times in the new Premier Section. They also won the Border Regiment Cup four times. Drumaness also graced the Clarence Cup final final three times, winning the trophy twice.
The club now has one of the best equipped grounds int he league with the newly opened club house situated just behind the pitch. Vintage Years of Sport
Village where they're born with football boots on their feet!
To many people the words "The Mills jersey" will have no special meaning but to have it associated with you has a significance of its own in Drumaness.
If you are said to have worn "the Mills jersey" means you have played for Drumaness football team and in Co. Down village so dedicated to soccer that means a lot.
The Club, formed in the 1929-30 season, got its name from the Flax Spinning Mill in the village, but now sadly demolished. The team then competed in the Amateur League under the guidance of the late Dan Gelston, a man whose devotion to the game in the village was outstanding.
Among those names in the early days were Joseph Toman, Hughie Cranston, Jim Matheson, Billy Oakes, Fred Noade, Robert Curry and Johnnie Cush.
The follow up to the 30s saw what many still believe to be some of the great names in the team. There was Sean Hanna, a skilful winger in the village and had four sons deeply involved - Noel was the manager of the firsts, Ronan who managed the thirds and played for Portadown while his brother Tom, while John, the elder brother, was club treasurer.
Other stalwarts were Tom Lewis, one of the great all rounders, Micky Marner, who helped in the running of the social club, Patsy McCormic, who rarely missed a match, PJ Walsh who had three sons playing for the teams, Barry, Malachy and Paul.
One of the most famous Drumaness players was Eddie Hinton, former Fulham and Ireland goalkeeper now in exile living in Belfast. The village team had their own star goalkeeper in Murphy Rogan.
In the 1950s under men like Bill Killen as secretary, Hugh Marner and George Maguire, soccer was kept to the forefront. A probable line up of the team would embrace Fergie Gordon, Willie Rea, Wilbert Gillespie, Doc Ard, Seamus Hanna, Ray McNerlin, Colum Walsh, Michael Donnelly and Charlie Oakes. Two noted brothers also on the scene were Brendan and Gerry McCormick. John McKeown graduated to Larne where he became captain and led them to several Steel and Sons Cup victories, while also prominent at this period was Michael Owens.
By this time there was hardly a boy in the village who hadn't been born wearing football boots! As many as six double decker buses would be needed to take supporters to games in Ballygowan and Comber Summer League.
When there was evening matches there was a rush home from work or school and youngsters would bring along their boots in the hope that someone would fail to turn up and they might get a game.
The sixties brought its quota of new talent to the team with the McCormick brothers and the others. Joining Michael Donnelly were his brothers Sean and Barney and friend Conn Magee, a member of the present committee, and George Gillespie, the present secretary.
Also on the go at that time were Hugh Hawthorne, Roly Hanna and George Green, later went on to join Portadown. There was also Jimmy Blaney, Harry Stevens and Jackie Brothwell, all leading lights.
Other names in the 60's and early 70's were Ivan Hoare, who had scoring gifts of his own, Robert Strain, who also went to Portadown and later had a spell with Manchester City, and managed the Glens second string.
There was also Gerry Rodgers who had spells with Brantwood and Ted McKibben featured in those days as left back. Another prominent figure, Paul Gelston after spells with Portadown, returned to the village and became player/manager, guiding the team to a league championship and two Border Cup successes, an example to every young player.
Conspicuous in the club's history are Damien McLean, goalkeeper Liam Wilson, Sidney Stevenson, now in Australia. Cyril Lennon and Harry Murray, Brian McAughtrey, who was to become player manager of the club, Willie Woodside, Stevie McCormick, Martin Singh and Michael Rainey with his brothers Brendan, Gerard and Jim.
The club also had a successful second string playing in the Newcastle League, their trophies including the Bobby Dalzell Cup.
Drumaness now have three teams and can look back with pride to a record of four league titles and three Border Cup victories.
In 1981 there was the opening of the social club now thriving so successfully that plans were made to develop the playing fields and training area and provide new changing facilities.
Under the guidance of the present committee, there is every indication that Drumaness has many triumphant years ahead.
Meadowvale Loyal local support has always been the hallmark of the football setup in Meadowvale with scores of fans flocking to matches throughout the years.
Drumaness Mills proudly opened its new ground and facilities on Saturday, 1st August 1992.
The pitch, 115 x 75 yards, is a splendid arena, which is used to host many finals from the Newcastle League. The building houses four separate changing rooms, showers, referee's room, toilets, garage and hospitality room.
Club Chairman at the time Mr George Gillespie, thanked all who helped in any way with the work on the facilities and extended a warm welcome to Cliftonville, who contested a challenger game with the Mills. Mr Gillespie also welcomed guests from Co. Antrim F.A., Amateur League, Newcastle League, Downpatrick and Crossgar Youth Leagues and also many past and present players.
What was said on the day:
Mr Sam Osbourne, who was the Chairman of Down District Council, officially opened the ground. He stated on that day: "It's a memorable day in the history of the Drumaness Club. Over the years the club has enjoyed a lot of success in various competitions and no doubt those occasions have been recorded in many people's minds. Today the club has achieved its greatest success to date."
Club Chairman (now Secretary), Mr George Gillespie: "Over the past thirty years every single person in Drumaness village has given us support and it is something the club is proud of. Drumaness is a close knit community and without its help and support we would not be here today".
Cliftonville Chairman, Mr Jimmy Boyce, who is also president of the Co. Antrim F.A. was generous in praise: "It's quite clear everything didn't happen overnight. A lot of hard work and determination has been put in, and to me that is exactly what football is all about."
Noel Hanna who was the Club's Secretary: "It's a great day foe the club and we can only thank all who helped in any way down through the years to make the club what it is today."
Cliftonville won the challenge game 2-1.
Interesting Facts Did you know the old building below the Social Club was once the Village Primary School. When Drumaness played at home the lads got changed in the boiler house of this school and got washed in the local river.
In the early 1960's the home players changed in local people's homes while the away team and referee enjoyed the luxury of changing in the Dan Rice Hall.
Mr Billy Sloan was kind enough to transport players to away matches numerous times. On once occasion when the lads were travelling to Larne, to play Larne Tec, the bus was packed and for some unknown reason one of the front wheels fell off the bus. The wheel ran down the road in front of the bus while the lads got a lift for the rest of the journey. They had to make their own way home and as money was short, many of them thumbed it home to Drumaness.
Drumaness Mills can now boast one of the best pitches and facilities in the Northern Amateur League. . . but that wasn't always the case. The pitch had a famous slope for many years, and the fanatical support from the villagers often caused problems with referees and officials, particularly in the season 1932/33.
The pronounced slope was perhaps no worse than on other grounds at that time, but at about halfway line there were large humps, which were highest at the touchlines. This meant that a player standing on a touchline about 20 yards from the centre line would have only seen the upper half of a player similarly positioned on the other side of the centre line!
The crowd were never afraid to let the referee known what thy thought of him, and during the Clarence Cup tie against Willowfield in February, he had to be escorted off the pitch, amid threats to throw him in the nearby Dam! A second referee's report about the crowd's conduct, this time in March against the City Hall in a Clarence Cup tie, promped the league to issue a caution to the club.
The 1961/62 season saw Gerry McCormick score 57 goals. This is the top goal scoring record, which was previously held by his brother Patsy, who has scored 55 goals.
March 1936, Drumaness were dismissed from the Clarence Cup for playing an ineligible player. The fine was 30 shillings.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT http://drumanessmills.info
