Today Stephen Graham gives us his ‘Best 15’ from St. James’ Aldergrove. ‘Grumpo’ has served the Crumlin club as a player and committee member for over 3 decades and was a solid corner-back who played alongside many of his selection on today’s team.
Not everyone will agree with his selection. It’s just one man’s opinion.
Just a bit of fun!
Stephen Graham’s ‘Best 15’
Having played Senior football for Aldergrove from 1986 to 2014 I have selected my side from the players I played with during that time. I have excluded the players who left th3e club to play for anyone else because it is an Aldergrove 15. We have some players who won championships in 1977 and 2019 and our team in 1997 won 38 consecutive games.
The St. James’ Aldergrove side who were IFC winners in 2019
This is my ‘Best 15’ Aldergrove footballers
1 Paddy Campbell Jnr: Great hands, smart kick outs and played like a sweeper giving his defenders confidence. Paddy was also a great outfield player and played on the 97 team.
2 Chris McVeigh: Captained last year’s Intermediate Championship winning team. Chris is a pacey defender who can play anywhere in the back 6. He was part of the Antrim 2009 squad who got to the Ulster final and also enjoyed success with Jordanstown.
3 Seamus Henry: Just winding down his career when I started to play. Seamus was a teak tough defender who relished a challenge. He was a championship winner in 1977. A great reader of the game who always seemed to have time on the ball.
4 Paul Mallon: Gave 320 years of service at corner back. Usually got the man marking job and was rarely exposed and could mix it if he had to. He played on the 97 team.
5 Chris O’Kane: Another Intermediate Championship winner from last year. A Rolls Royce of a player who looks comfortable in any position and would make any team.
Chris McVeigh is selected at right-back on Stephen Graham’s ‘Best 15’
6 Joe Donnelly: Played number 6 from 17 years of age and was in the Antrim squad when he was 19. A great tackler with great timing and his departure to Australia really hurt us as a club.
7 Anto Fenney: Another of the 97 team who went a season unbeaten. A great attacking half-back who scored plenty. Edges out Dan Feeney and Mickey Brown who played on the 97 team.
8 James Brazier: I played with James from 1979 to 2014 for Aldergrove. He was a club legend who played mid-field for us in his mid-40’s. A great fielder of the ball who captained the 97 team.
9 Joe Henry: (The Guy) An outstanding Grove player and leader. A great fielder of the ball who scored plenty from mid-field.
10 Hugh Henry R.I.P.: Another who played well into his 40’s. A great athlete and a box to box runner who scored plenty too. Hugh was an inspiration to Aldergrove coming through the ranks and a member of the 77 championship winning team.
Seamus Henry who is predicted to have a bright future by Stephen Graham
11 Fearghal Burke: A brilliant link man who always brings others into play. A great passer of the ball who scored a brilliant point to win us the Intermediate final last year.
12 Mark ‘Snap’ McGivern: Pacey two footed player and a scoring machine with great balance who works hard for the team. He played on the 97 team.
13 Seamus Blaney: A goal machine who could mix it when he had to. Strong, Pacey, direct and loved scoring. Played on the 1997 team.
14 Christy McGarry: Selected at 14 with a free role but could play anywhere. A really smart footballer and ball carrier. He was manager of the 97 unbeaten team, so I’m selecting him as player-manager.
15 Simon McQuillan: Get the ball to Simon and he will score. At times he was unmarkable. In the late 90’s and early noughties he was top scorer every season. Played on the 97 team.
Fearghal Burke gets the number 11 jersey
16 Micky Brown: Strong pacey defender who hit some great long range scores.
17 Marty Flynn: Great hard working scoring forward who brought great organization.
18 Bobby Kennedy: Great calming full-back who never lost a high ball.
19 Allan Kelly: Great ball player who could play anywhere with pace to burn.
20 Seamus McGarry: The only one I didn’t play with but has to be on any Aldergrove panel. If all goes well he could go on to be our best ever forward. Scored 0-10 against Monaghan in an U21 game for Antrim. Still 2 or 3 years away from his peak.