   
Last Updated: 21/01/2012 17:18:41 FEATURED PLAYER 2011/12 Gary RaffertyGames Started: 12 Goals Scored: 5 Yellow Cards: 1 Red Cards: 0 |
BANGOR F.C. -
SEASON 2008-2009
2008-2009 SEASON SUMMARY Many people were surprised when Bangor appointed the highly respected and inspirational figure of Marty Quinn as the permanent successor to Paul Millar in May 2008. Quinn got straight down to business and brought Darren Lockhart, Noel Anderson, Aaron McKee and goalkeeper Andrew Plummer to Clandeboye. The strike force of Morrow and Verner was retained, while Nathan McConnell recruited as backup along with Paul McDowell who was still making his way back to fitness. Perhaps Quinn's finest signing was Mark Gracey who perfomed magnificently at the heart of the defence in his few months at the club.
Bangor produced another victory with a backs to the wall defensive display at Glenavon the following Tuesday - a result which sent them to the top of the Premiership League table. The Seasiders came crashing down to earth with a somewhat harsh 5-0 home defeat to Crusaders on match day three. Linfield were to repeat that score line at Clandeboye Park several weeks later. Bangor rallied and pulled off successive victories against Ballymena United, Dungannon Swifts and Lisburn Distillery. The team that many had thought would struggle was suddenly looking to secure a place in the top half of the table come the split. There was a memorable 4-0 victory over Coleraine and a 0-0 draw with Linfield at Windsor Park - a game that Bangor came very close to winning. Behind the scenes, all was not well at the club. The financial commitments of playing in the Premiership, combined with the effects of a global downturn was proving to be an overwhelming burden on the club. The Board of Directors was forced to make the unenviable decision to withdraw from the domestic license application process in January 2009 - thereby effectively relegating the club for the next season. As Bangor sought to reduce their wage bill, Marty Quinn and his coaching staff moved to fill the vacancy at Glenavon. Quinn took goalkeeper Andrew Plummer and defender Mark Gracey with him to Mourneview Park while Nathan McConnell left for Ballymena United. Reserve Team Manager John Bailie was given the role of caretaker and oversaw a fantastic 5-1 victory over Carrick Rangers in the Irish Cup. Bailie returned to his Reserve side several weeks later and Colin McCurdy, assisted by Norman Kelly took over the reins for the remainder of the season. The Bangor side struggled to find their form for the remainder of the season and despite producing some fine team performances they failed to register a win under McCurdy. THE PLAYING SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Defenders: Midfielders: Strikers: |
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The season began in dramatic fashion. Bangor looked to be out
of their depth as they trailed 2-0 to Institute at Clandeboye
after an hour, but somehow the Seasiders turned the game around
with goals from Cleary and Irvine. Midfielder Noel Anderson then struck the winning goal in injury time at the
end of the match.
