The answer, in all probability, will not be with particular fondness, with the Sky Blues still light years from emulating the arguably the golden era in the club's history, the 1980s, where three Irish Cups were among a glorious haul of silverware.

A total of four managers took charge of the club during that decade, although two of them – Kenny Shiels and Tommy Wright – accounted for seven of the 10 years.

Consequently, there were manay changes – although some things remained depressingly constant.

Top of that list was the drought for silverware, with Ballymena having now entered a 21st year without winning a major trophy i.e. one that is competed for by all senior clubs.

The decade also began with the club under a financial cloud and ended in similar fashion, although not anywhere near the same scale as the problems which threatened the very existence of the club around the turn of the millennium.

I've covered the club throughout the past decade and here are some of the moments – some good, some bad and some downright bizarre – which have defined the decade for me.

1. Down but not out: After Glenn Hunter's goals amost single-handedly kept United in the top flight for the start of the millennium, there was no reprieve for the Sky Blues in season 2000-1.

Nigel Best got the chop as manager before Christmas of that campaign and after the extraordinary appointment of physiotherapist George Magill as interim manager over the crucial festive period, Kenny Shiels took over as manager but, despite starting out of the relegation placings, he was unable to prevent the malaise which culminated in relegation to the first division.

There are perhaps lessons to be learned that a club which flirts with relegation for a couple of seasons will invariably slip through the trapdoor at some stage.

2. Glorious failure: While in the first division, Ballymena, as only they could contrive to do, somehow failed to win the title from a position of having virtually one hand on the trophy.

The moment to top them all came in the title decider at Dungannon where Ballymena were 2-1 up and about to take a penalty with Swifts keeper Niall Currie having been sent off. Peter Withnell's spot kick was saved by stand-in Johnny Montgomery and the Swifts went on to win 3-2.

With Ballymena mentally shot to pieces, they completely imploded in the closing weeks, allowing Dungannon to overtake them to the title.

3. New stand opens: The opening of the new stand in 2003 (six-and-a-bit years later and it still hasn't been given a proper name) was a major feather in the cap for the club and borough.

The appearance of Premiership Bolton Wanderers to mark the official opening of the facility was another major plus. Work begins shortly on a similar job on the Warden Street stand.

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