Glee at Glebe for Ballymena footballers

Glebe Rangers made the step up from the Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League a few seasons ago and have risen to play in IFA Championship One – just one step in the ladder below the likes of Linfield, Glentoran and Ballymena United.

Among Glebe’s squad this season are three Ballymena-based players who have all taken the route to what was formerly the old ‘B’ Division via the Saturday Morning League.

One player who has been part of the club’s rise over the past three years has been Peter Kennoway, from Ahoghill.

“Peter is an excellent young player who is exceptional in the air and ever improving on the ground,” says Glebe boss Gary Scott, who himself works in Ballymena for Michelin.

“He also scored they best goal I’ve ever seen away to Coagh when he hit a volley from 35 yards in what was on that day probably the biggest result in the clubs history - although each time the story is recounted, the shot was from further out!”

A new signing for Glebe this season is Lee Garrett, son of former Linfield and Ballymena United defender John Garrett, who joined from Raceview.

“Lee is a quiet, well mannered young lad and he has really forced his way into the reckoning with a determination, versatility and hunger to be successful that is vital for any player or club to be successful,” says Scott.

Another local player who has successfully made the trip up the A26 is Johnny Rice, a Harryville based central defender signed from Clough Rangers.

“At this point I would say he is heading straight towards being the number one centre half in this division,” enthuses Scott.

“That’s not a sentence I say lightly but he is developing, listening and executing instructions and is becoming one of the rocks that Glebe stand on.

All three of them deserve recognition for their efforts. They came from a Saturday Morning League that is a hotbed of talent but had the bravery to come out of that comfort zone and test themselves week in week out in a really demanding league.

“These Ballymena lads at moment are a big part of Glebe’s future and I have no doubt that plenty of other BSML players could thrive in the enviroment we are developing at Glebe,” added Scott, who also paid tribute to another Ballymena man, Peter Tweed, who is a key member of the coaching staff at the Riada Stadium.