Kilmore Rec FC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kilmore Rec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Kilmore Rec Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | "The Rec" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 as Kilmore United FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Robert Adams Park, Crossgar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Norman Taylor (Chief Executive) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Paul Moore |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | NI Amateur League, Premier Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | NI Amateur League, Premier, 11th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nestled behind the square in the County Down village of Crossgar with its tranquil wooded setting is Robert Adams Park, home of Kilmore Rec F.C.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early Years (1967-1972)
It was following the euphoria of the 1966 World Cup in England, that two young local men, Bobby McClure and Dennis Lennon, decided to start a football team. After a few friendly games they called a meeting in April 1967 to form a club and as the majority of the players came from the village of Kilmore the name Kilmore United was chosen.
The first competitive games were in the Killyleagh summer league before entering the Newcastle & District League in 1968-69, playing at "Hamiltons Field" which was situated half way between the villages of Kilmore and Annacloy.
During the first four years spent in the Newcastle & District League the club made it to the Harry Clarke Cup Final, losing to Annalong Rangers after a replay. It was at this time that Robert Adams, affectionately known as "Mr Kilmore", and his good friend Davy Harper became involved at the club.
[edit] Kilmore Rec (1972-1990)
A name change to Kilmore Recreation, a change of ground to the monastery ground in Crossgar, where we still play today, preceded a successful application to join the Northern Ireland Amateur League in 1972. The first game in the Amateur was at home to Carreras in Division 2B.
Two years later came promotion to Division 2A and the beginning of a successful six year spell which would see Intermediate status achieved. Three successive Cochrane Corry Final appearances from season 1977-78 to season 1979-80 saw the trophy sit in the Kilmore clubrooms on two occasions. The middle year we lost 3-2 to Annalong Swifts but went on to defeat 40th Old Boys 2-1 in the Co. Antrim F.A. Junior Shield Final that was played at Castlereagh Park, Newtownards.
The momentum was kept going and in the season 1980-81 the very competitive Division 2A Championship was won and promotion to the First Division was confirmed. The step up to Division 1B was taken with some ease, winning the Championship at the first attempt.
Status in the top Division, 1A, was maintained throughout the 1980's before suffering relegation in the season 1989-90. We bounced back the following year winning the Division 1B championship.
[edit] Kilmore Rec (1990- Present)
In 1991-92 the League created a Premier section and insisted upon a new level of ground criteria set for clubs desiring to be part of it. Kilmore met all the requirements and became founder members.
It is significant that the upgrade of the facilities enabled the club to host a senior Irish League club in round 5 of the Irish Challenge Cup for the first time. Cliftonville were the visitors and they defeated Kilmore 1-0 on 18th January 1992.
1994-95 saw the Kilmore Rec Under 18 enter the Northern Ireland Youth Cup under the guidance of Billy Sloan. The team showed great character and determination by defeating all of the odds and becoming one of few, and the last, Amateur league team to win the Cup. They defeated Portadown Boys 2-0 at Dixon Park, Ballyclare on 22nd April 1996. The team defeated many of the Irish League favourites on route to winning the cup and several of the players who competed in this team are now plying their trade in the Irish league and in the Amateur League.
The late nineties brought another relegation (1996-97) and a promotion (1998-99). We are currently in the Premier Section. Dismissal from the Border Regiment Cup 2001-02 after winning the semi-final tie against Dromara Village was disappointing but all at the closely knit club showed the determination required and made it back to the Border Cup Final the following year, 2002-03, their first Intermediate status final. On this occasion Kilmore where defeated 2-0 by their local rivals, Killyleagh YC.
2003-04 was an eventful year for the club and following a disastrous start to the season, less than 10pts in the league at Christmas, the first team went on a winning spree after Christmas, winning all of their games and collecting the Clarence Cup on route with the highlight being the defeat of local rivals Downpatrick FC in the Clarence Cup Final, 5-1 after extra time, in a dramatic match at Dromara FC on 20th May 2004.
Off the field there have been significant changes, with a new perimeter wall, gates and a small grandstand all completed in the year 2000. New changing facilities were used on the 28th September 2002 when Hollywood F.C. visited in the 3rd round of the Border Regiment Cup and where officially opened before a friendly match against Glentoran F.C. on the 9th July 2003. The long-term plan is to provide a training pitch, car parking and floodlighting at Robert Adams Park.
The ground improvement plans were initiated in honour of the late Robert Adams who died suddenly in May 1998 at the age of 47. His work and dedication to the club was immense and in his memory the club re-named the ground Robert Adams Park.
2004-05 saw Kilmore Rec first squad reach the semi-final of the Co. Antrim Shield under the management of Donal Bell. Kilmore saw off Irish Premier League opposition Ballymena United in the first round with a 1-0 win. Kilmore proceeded to quarter-finals drawn against another Irish Premier League team, Lisburn Distillery. Kilmore beat the Irish League team 3-2 on penalties after a score of 1-1 after extra time. Kilmore were then drawn against yet another Irish League opponent, Linfield. Kilmore were beaten 2-0 ending their Co. Antrim Shield run.
The club is proud to have supplied players to the leagues Britton Rosebowl Representative squads over the years, including Noel and Mel McCarthy, Kevin Bell, John Montgomery, Paul Moore, David Stranney, Mark McGreevy, Gary Kennedy, Andrew Waterworth, and Steven Rogan to name a few.
Apart from those early stalwarts who pioneered the game in the area, Kilmore Rec. have had others who contributed much to the success it is today, with its two senior teams and a thriving youth policy. Those stalwarts include Martin Doherty, John Dagen, Michael Toman, Don Waterworth, Noel McCarthy (Jnr), Hugh Horner, Norman McClure and Norman Taylor to name a few.
