Champions League for Showgrounds!

But while, sadly, it won’t be Ballymena United in action, there will still be a feast of football as the Warden Street ground is one of the venues for the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying round.

The mini tournament features Glasgow City, FCR Duisburg (Germany), Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava and the Northern Irish representatives Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers.

Ballymena hosts a ‘double-header’ of fixtures on August 7 with Slovan Bratislava v Glasgow City at 3pm and Duisburg against Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers at 6pm.

Ballymena will also host a further game between Glasgow City and Duisburg on Tuesday, August 10, at 5pm.