Liverpool legend helps Bears celebrate 30th anniversary

Liverpool legend helps Bears celebrate 30th anniversary

22 May 2019

TOLLYMORE United celebrated their 30th anniversary in some style in the salubrious surroundings of the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, on Saturday night.

United were formed back in June 1989 and had been planning the birthday celebrations for several years.

Guest of honour, Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar, was booked in December, and the Tollymore club endured an uncomfortable few weeks until the Anfield Reds were beaten in the FA Cup.

The significance of this was that Grobbelaar is a Liverpool FC ambassador and would have had to attend Saturday’s FA Cup final had Liverpool reached it and this of course would have clashed with the Bears’ bash.

The Tollymore club has had some amazing guests over the years, including numerous internationals, league and cup winners, a World Cup winner in Leeds United legend Jack Charlton, but never before a European Cup winner.

However, Grobbelaar’s booking completed the full set as he lifted the European Cup in 1984 with Liverpool.

Tollymore club chairman John McIlvenny welcomed guests to the dinner, with Bruce being escorted to his seat to the strains of Gerry Marsden’s Anfield anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as highlights of his playing career were shown on the video screens.

John welcomed Bruce to the dinner and invited Rev Owen Patterson from Downpatrick Presbyterian Church to say grace – Rev Patterson has strong football connections and is a Downpatrick FC youth coach.

After dinner, Mr McIlvenny gave a brief history of the club, remarking how far it had progressed from its early days when, after being approached by a number of people, he, the late Ronnie Aulds, Michael Keane, Clarence Robinson, Sean Lavery and Andy Hall met to discuss setting up a new club in Newcastle.

The chairman said how pleased he was to see so many old friends at the event including the club’s most successful manager, Ian Kendall, and the club’s all time record scorer Michael Harty.

Mr McIlvenny also reminisced about the various dinner guests that had come over to Newcastle over the years with the last major guest being Arsenal double winning captain Frank McClintock in May 2001 – almost exactly 19 years ago.

John then invited Ronnie Morrison to toast the club on behalf of Jim Emery, a long time friend of the club, who, while at the dinner, was recovering from major surgery.

Ronnie, a current Linfield FC director, remarked how much he was enjoying the warmth of the occasion and friendliness of everyone at the club.

On behalf of Jim he toasted the club’s 30th anniversary and wished them many more.

Before inviting Bruce to speak, the chairman introduced a short video that was made especially for the occasion. The video was well received and no doubt there will be more versions in the future.

Bruce Grobbelaar then rose, to a rapturous reception to deliver one of the slickest and wittiest after dinner speeches the club has heard.

Stories from his early days as a 16 year old ‘keeper with Highlanders FC, a Zimbabwean football club based in Bulawayo, to an eventual move to Vancouver Whitecaps and subsequent transfer to Crewe Alexandria until the legendary Bob Paisley signed him for Liverpool in 1981.

Grobbelaar played 440 times for the Reds in a trophy-laden career. Among the stories he told were e the events of May 30, 1984, when his antics in a penalty shoot out against Roma helped Liverpool to win the European Cup.

He also talked about his career after Liverpool and working with Alan Ball at Southampton at the height of the match fixing allegations that were made against him.

When Ball was asked by the media why he was playing Grobbelaar in goal ahead of England international Dave Beasant, Ball reputedly said: “I would rather have Bruce in goal trying to throw the game than Dave doing his best to save it.”

By common consensus, Bruce was one of the best speakers the club has had and has whetted the appetite for the future to renew the club’s tradition of bringing over guest speakers.

Bruce was presented with a small gift from the club by youth team coach Simon Thornton, a set of golf balls and towel from the Royal County Down Golf Club.

Club secretary Andy Hall then spoke for a few minutes to highlight some of the highs and lows of the last 30 years and to thank IFA regional development officer Seamus Heath for all the work he does in promoting football across the Newry Mourne and Down Council area.

Andy then invited IFA vice-chairman Jack Grundie to say a few words with Jack presenting the club with a gift to mark the occasion.

County Antrim FA president Jim Jess also spoke warmly about the club and presented a memento to mark the occasion with Maurice Johnston, vice chair of the Mid Ulster Football  League, congratulating the club on their 30th anniversary and presenting Tollymore chairman John McIlvenny with a gift to recognise the achievement.

Newcastle League secretary Alan Craig was unfortunately taken ill before the dinner and was unable to attend and the club sends its warm wishes to him for a speedy recovery.

The final official speaker was Elaine Junk, the former chair of the NI Women’s Football Association during the period when Tollymore had a successful ladies’ side.

Elaine congratulated the club on its 30th anniversary and encouraged them to get a ladies’ team back up and playing.

With the official proceedings drawing to a close there was one last surprise with Adrian Howard presenting a life time achievement award on behalf of players and members to Andy Hall in recognition of all his work for the club.

It was a wonderful gesture by the club and much appreciated by Andy.

The evening concluded with dancing to the wonderful Fifth Avenue with Bruce continuing to sign autographs and pose for pictures into the wee small hours.