Glentoran Strengthens Friendship with Onside Soccer
Glentoran Football Club welcomed 26 young players from Onside Soccer to the BetMcLean Oval on Thursday, continuing a friendship that has grown over the past four years. The group travelled from Carshalton in south London and were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Oval before taking part in a training session led by Glentoran Academy coaches.
A Friendship that Continues to Grow
The visit was supported by Glentoran Social Partnership, which also sponsored food and refreshments supplied by Pizza Hut. Onside Soccer founder Paul Harbinson and Phil Kane from Project Playmaker, the charity's Belfast programme, accompanied the group. The trip to East Belfast has become an annual fixture that the young players eagerly anticipate.
A Special Bond between Glentoran and Onside Soccer
Their relationship with the Club was strengthened further in February when the 1st Carshalton Glentoran Supporters' Club was formally recognised as an official supporters' club of Glentoran. Ruth McCreery, Director of Glentoran Football Club, said: 'We were delighted to welcome Paul, Phil and the young players from Onside Soccer back to the Oval. Our friendship has grown considerably over the past four years and it has been very rewarding to see the affection the group has developed for Glentoran.'
What Comes Next?
The young players had another fantastic day, with Paul Harbinson, founder of Onside Soccer, saying: 'Our annual visit to the Oval is one of the highlights of the year and the young players had another fantastic day. They loved seeing behind the scenes and having the opportunity to train with the Glentoran Academy coaches.' Glentoran captain Marcus Kane and Northern Ireland CP international Charlie Fogarty MBE are ambassadors for the programme.
Current Context
Glentoran is currently 2nd in the Premiership, with 6 points from 3 games, and is 1 point behind leaders Coleraine FC. The team's next fixture is against Crusaders FC on December 19, 2026. With 5 goals scored and 2 conceded, Glentoran has a +3 goal difference this season.
A Special Moment for Glentoran
The visit was a special moment for Glentoran, with the team's players and staff providing a unique experience for the young players from Onside Soccer. The visit was a testament to the strong bond between Glentoran and Onside Soccer, and a reminder of the importance of community and friendship in football.
Image Prompt
A photorealistic image of an anonymous Glentoran Academy coach, aged 30-40, with a strong build, standing in front of the BetMcLean Oval, wearing a Glentoran jersey made of white fabric with a blue stripe, under an 85mm f/1.4 lens, with a shallow depth of field and floodlight rim light.
