Obituary: Mr. James McReynolds

Mr. McReynolds (78), from Brigadie Crescent, passed away peacefully at hospital. He was for many years a leading light in junior football circles. Indeed, only last week, he was featured on our ‘Pictures From The Past’ page presenting the McReynolds Trophy.

Billy Spence, the now retired former sports editor of the Ballymena Times descibed Mr. McReynolds as a tireless advocate of junior football.

He said: “Jim was the secretary of Ballymena and District Junior League. He helped to make it one of the best leagues in the country working in conjunction with the late Major Tom Smith. Junior football in Ballymena and the wider Co. Antrim area owes a great deal to the hard work and dedication of men like Jim McReynolds.”

It could be said that Jim McReynolds was born with football in his veins, being the son of Bob McReynolds, another eminent junior footballer who plied his skills with the superb Summerfield Swifts team who had a much envied record at junior level.

Mr. McReynolds was equally well known to a whole generation of Ballymena people who worked in the Braidwater Mill where he was a much respected figure throughout his long career at the business. Having entered the mill as an apprentice manager, he served in virtually every function in the business and retired as production manager. He was an acknowledged expert on all facets of linen production and several of his former colleagues attended his funeral which was conducted by the Parish Priest,Fr. Patrick Delargey.

Mr. McReynolds was the much loved husband of Peggy and devoted father of Paddy, Colette and Clare. His well attended funeral on Saturday morning was to Crebilly cemetery following Requiem Mass at All Saints Church.