Ballymena United mourns passing of popular treasurer Noel

Noel, who had been a director of the club for 15 years and who had held the position of treasurer for a number of years, died suddenly at his home in Cullybackey. He was 56.

Having grown up in Harryville and been educated at Ballymena Academy, he enjoyed a successful career as a civil servant.

But it was through his long association with Ballymena United that he was particularly well-known.

“He was a lifelong follower of Ballymena United and that was the case even when he lived away from the town,” said United vice-chairman John Taggart, a close friend.

“Noel and I travelled the length and breadth of the country watching Ballymena and we would have chatted about football the whole way there and the whole way back.

“Noel attended the club’s games in Europe, even the one against Vorwaerts in the old East Germany, at a time when travelling to places like that wasn’t as easy as it is today.

“Like myself, Noel got involved in working for the club through our association and friendship with Maurice Smyth.

“He was treasurer at a time when the club was going through one of its toughest spells financially and yet Noel always had the personal skills and diplomacy to keep people happy even at times when their money wasn’t available.

“He also put in an awful lot of work behind the scenes at the club - he would have walked to Belfast for Ballymena United Football Club.

“He was one of the straightest guys you could ever meet and his death at the age of 56 is desperately sad,” added John.

Former Ballymena manager Roy Walker paid his own tribute to Noel during Saturday’s funeral service and the sympathy of everyone connected with the club is extended to the family circle.