Christmas Message

ON behalf of the Board of Coleraine Football Club, I would like to wish all Bannsiders a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and also thank you for your incredible, loyal support…

I have been reflecting on the past 12 months and it has been another amazing year with so much to learn. Last season, which was a disappointment, still saw us finish only four wins from a European place and we got to the BetMcLean Cup Final.

I think, the previous six or seven years have led us to expect us to be right up there. This season is again proving to be difficult and make no mistake; everyone at the club understands that and is working as hard as possible to put it right. Whilst we have roles and responsibilities at our great club, we are also fans, and we feel it badly when things don’t go well.

However, there has been a huge amount to celebrate at the club. The support of the fans has been exceptional and reflected through the turnstiles with some of our best-ever crowds and a record number of season ticket holders. That support and loyalty is heart-warming and drives us all forward.

The campaign to get Levelling Up funding united us all behind one significant goal to develop The Showgrounds. Whilst the outcome was not ideal, the feedback fills us with hope and confidence that we will be successful eventually.

The big opportunity remains the investment into the club. Plenty of people offered their advice that whilst this is a great opportunity, we must ensure that it in the best long-term interests of the club. So, we and Ranald and Patrick for their part, have ensured that the due diligence process on both parts has been done openly and thoroughly. We have had a very dedicated team of people drawn from inside the club and experts with strong connections to the club advising us. That stage is just about complete, and we are confident that the transaction will complete early in the New Year.

That will only be the start of the hard work of a transition to a full-time model. A large part of the discussions has focused on how we manage the developments to get the best outcomes. There will be changes to training, nutrition and planning and preparation for the playing squad. However, we need a strong off-field operation to support our incredible team of volunteers to ensure that the club continues to grow and is sustainable.

To conclude, I want to thank the players, coaches, volunteers, and sponsors for their incredible efforts on behalf of the club. Most importantly, I want to thank you, the fans for your loyal support. You are the club, we recognise that and together, we can look forward to a great 2024.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and come on the Bannsiders!

Colin McKendry