NEWS

L-R John Megaughin, Managing Director at Clearbox, Chris Selwood, Ballymena United Chairman and Neil Coleman, Client Director at Clearbox Ballymena United, one of the leading clubs in the Sports Direct Premiership, has appointed communications consultancy Clearbox to support the club’s marketing and communications campaigns as it looks to strengthen its brand and increase match ticket sales. The NIFL Premiership club confirmed that Clearbox will lead the development and imple

Des McKeown and other members of Back in the Game Ballymena, welcomes Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford. Back in the Game Ballymena welcomed a special guest to their annual presentation morning this week, as the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford, attended the event during the group’s weekly football session. The presentation morning took place on Thursday morning, February 5, bringing together players and supporter

Two Ballymena schools have secured funding for new synthetic sports pitches following successful applications to the Department of Education, a move welcomed by North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew as a significant boost to sports provision in local schools. Cambridge House Grammar School and Slemish College have both been approved for new facilities under Department of Education capital programmes, aimed at strengthening physical education, sport and wider wellbeing as part of t

The winning Seven Towers Senior 1 netball team with coach, Lauren Walsh Seven Towers Senior 1 netball team have secured promotion to the Netball Northern Ireland Senior 2 League after a dramatic extra-time victory in a high-pressure play-off against Westside 2 on Wednesday evening. Proudly sponsored by Howdens Kitchens, Seven Towers were taken to the limit in a fiercely contested match, with the sides level at full time. With promotion on the line, the Senior 1 squad showed c

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is pictured in his office signing the Northern Ireland Football Fund Letter of Offers. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced the first funding offers under the Northern Ireland Football Fund (NIFF), bringing a welcome boost to football clubs across Northern Ireland. Among the 20 clubs progressing through the Performance Programme, Ballymena United, Larne FC , and Carrick Rangers are set to receive crucial support to refine their b

Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland, Amruta Vaidya, Chief Executive, Irish FA, Patrick Neslon, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, Simon Fitzpatrick and Chief Executive, NI Football League, Gerard Lawlor. Coca-Cola has announced a new partnership with Northern Ireland football, becoming the official soft drinks partner of both the Irish Football Association (Irish FA) and the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL). The agreement, announced by The Coca

Colm "The Posh Boy" Murphy battled it out against Tanzanian boxer, Saleh Kassim to secure the Commonwealth Featherweight Title Theatre at The Mill has etched its name into British boxing history after hosting its first-ever championship contest, with Colm “The Posh Boy” Murphy claiming the Commonwealth Featherweight Title on a landmark night in Newtownabbey. The sell-out event, staged on Saturday 31 January 2026, marked another major milestone for the venue, which has rapidl

CAFRE trained Apprentice, Jack Johnson from Belfast secured his first Point-to-Point win having recently achieved his Jockey’s Licence. The upcoming Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week (2–6 February) is providing an opportunity to spotlight the achievements of a rising local talent, as former CAFRE Equine Apprentice Jack Johnson celebrates a remarkable journey from classroom to racetrack success. Staff at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) have pr

Back in the Game Ballymena representatives Ian Getty (right) and Gary McFetridge (left with Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Councillor Jackson Minford Back in the Game Ballymena has underlined the importance of community connection and men’s mental wellbeing after attending a major wellbeing event in Ballymena. The local group was invited to take part in the annual ‘Wellbeing Monday’ event, hosted by Radius and Triangle Housing Associations, working in partnership with Turning P

Norman McBurney OBE at the renamed home stand in the main arena at Ballymena Showgrounds, in his honour. The home stand at Ballymena Showgrounds has been officially renamed the Norman McBurney OBE Stand, marking a significant civic tribute to one of Mid and East Antrim’s most influential business and sporting figures. The formal naming ceremony took place on Thursday, 23 January 2026, celebrating the lifetime contribution of the Co Antrim businessman whose impact has spanned

Ballymena Elim Church is set to host a special evening of reflection and inspiration this weekend as former Ballymena United and Crusaders manager Roy Walker shares his life story with the local community. The latest instalment of the church’s Life Stories series will take place on Sunday 25 January at 6:30pm , offering the opportunity to hear first-hand from one of Northern Ireland’s most recognisable sporting figures. Roy Walker is widely known across Northern Ireland’s spo

Proposed south elevation of new sports pavilion A planning application has been submitted for the development of a new two-storey indoor sports pavilion within the grounds school in Ballymena, marking a significant investment in modern sporting facilities for pupils and the wider community. The proposal, lodged for Ballymena Academy on Galgorm Road, seeks full planning permission for a purpose-built sports facility designed to replace existing temporary modular buildings curr

Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland (CGNI) has confirmed that the Ulster Banner will continue to be used as the flag representing Northern Ireland athletes at the Commonwealth Games, following formal guidance from the Minister for Communities. The decision brings to an end days of intense political scrutiny and public debate after proposals emerged suggesting the traditional flag could be replaced with a corporate-style logo. In a statement issued on Tuesday (13 January 2026)

Inset: North Antrim TUV MP Jim Allister The decision to end the use of the Ulster Banner as the flag representing Northern Ireland athletes at the Commonwealth Games has sparked a strong political backlash, with unionist representatives accusing organisers of unnecessary and divisive political interference. TUV leader Jim Allister MP said he was “deeply disappointed” by the move, warning that the controversy risked overshadowing the sporting achievements of athletes due to

Ballymena Runners have announced the return of their popular Cosy Sofa programme for 2026, offering local people the chance to take their first steps into running in a friendly, supportive and community-focused environment. The eight-week programme will run from Tuesday 6 January to Tuesday 3 March 2026 , with weekly sessions beginning at 7:00pm in the Sports Zone Hall at Northern Regional College (NRC), Ballymena. Parking will be available at the Ballymena Showgrounds, acces

Anglers from across the North West and beyond are being encouraged to mark their calendars following confirmation of dates for the North West Angling Fair 2026, one of Northern Ireland’s premier fishing events. Derry City and Strabane District Council has announced that the popular fair will take place on Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, 2026, returning to Strabane with a move to the newly refurbished Melvin Sports Complex. Organisers say the 2026 edition promises

Peter Willis will line up in the Pirelli British Sportbike Championship next season, joining the CFMOTO Sportbike team, after many successful competing in the R&G British Talent Cup. Teenage racing prospect Peter Willis has been confirmed as the latest addition to the CFMOTO Sportbike team for the 2026 British racing season, marking a significant step up in his rapidly progressing motorsport career. The 17-year-old rider from Cullybackey, County Antrim, joins the team after s

Members of Alliance Amateur Swim club, winners of the £1000 Hafner’s Sports Grant. Alliance Amateur Swim Club has been awarded £1,000 through the Hafner’s Sausages Sports Fund 2025, as part of a £5,000 initiative supporting grassroots sport across Northern Ireland. The Antrim-based club is one of five local organisations to receive the funding, alongside North Down Softball Club in Bangor, St Patrick’s Football Club in Castlederg, Redmond O’Hanlon’s GAC in Poyntzpass , and E

Sparky, the Budget Energy mascot, joins players as the Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirms the eight Northern Ireland representatives for the 2026 Boys’ Minor Section, the first official team announcement ahead of next summer’s 43rd edition of the tournament. Pictured left to right are Callum McCabe (Rosario YFC) , Dylan Harkin (Maiden City), Archie Muir (Ballymena United) , Flynn Johnston (Cliftonville), Luke Duddy (Linfield) , Lorcàn Duffy (Newell Academy), Ben Robinson (Glen

BBC Sport NI’s Stephen Watson, left, presents Rory McIlroy with the BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year award for 2025 Masters Champion Rory McIlroy has been named BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year for 2025 , capping a remarkable season that has already secured his place among golf’s all-time greats. The Holywood man enjoyed a year for the ages, headlined by a dramatic play-off victory at the Masters in Augusta in April. That win saw McIlroy