GLENAVON PRESENTS JERSEY TO TERRY NICHOLSON 50685u

Glenavon has presented its former player and manager, Terry Nicholson, with a goalkeeper jersey. 1j3c4t

Terry, now in his 82nd year, has retained his football ion. He is a longstanding member of the Northern Ireland Veterans’ squad. In January 2014 he turned out for Donacloney Seconds against Dungannon Rovers to mark his 70th birthday and last year played for the village club against Lisburn Youth on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

The Magheralin man, a lifelong Glenavon er, had a distinguished playing career as a custodian with Portadown, Crusaders, Bangor, Coleraine and Distillerybefore his move to Mourneview Park. In 1967 and 1968 he was a member of the Crues’ team which won back-to-back Irish Cup Finals, defeating Glentoran 3-1 and Linfield 2-0.

In June 1982 he was appointed Glenavon manager after the departure of Billy Sinclair. He was subsequently released from his Distillery contract allowing him to continue his playing career

During the 1982-83 season he made 26 first team appearances as a goalkeeper.

His complete managerial record at Mourneview is as follows:

He guided Glenavon to a total of seventeen cup finals – seven in the Mid-Ulster Cup, two in the Budweiser Cup, County Antrim Shield, Irish Cup and Ulster Cup; and one in the Gold Cup and League Cup.

Glenavon won eight trophies under Terry – four Mid Ulster Cups (1983-84, 1985-86, 1988-89 and 1990-91), one Budweiser Cup (1988-89), one League Cup (1989-90), one Gold Cup (1990-91) and one County Antrim Shield (1990-91).

Nicky also led Glenavon into Europe three times – versus AGF Aarhus (1988-89), Girondins de Bordeaux (1990-91) and Ilves Tampere (1991-92). The club’s best performance was against the French drawing 0-0 at Mourneview Park and losing 2-0 at Parc Lescure.

During the 1980s Terry’s team-building ambitions were hampered by a lack of finance. In 1985-86 Glenavon won only three home league fixtures. The first, a 2-1 success against Bangor, was watched by perhaps the lowest attendance at Mourneview Park for a league fixture since the Second World War.

Things improved during the 1987-88 campaign. Glenavon reached the Bass Irish Cup Final but lost 1-0 to Glentoran. The following season Nicholson’s team ended a 23 year trophy drought with a sensational 6-1 success against Linfield in the Budweiser Cup Final replay.

In 1989-90 the Lurgan Blues won the Roadferry League Cup and came within a point of lifting the Irish League Championship after a stunning run of nine wins and a draw in the final ten fixtures.

In 1990-91 Glenavon reached six finals, all against Portadown, winning the Gold Cup, County Antrim Shield and Mid-Ulster Cup.

Key to Terry’s success was the g of Paul Byrne and Stephen McBride in the early 1980s, the recruitment of Geoff Ferris and Gary Blackledge later in the decade and the acquisition of Glenn Ferguson and Raymond McCoy in 1990.

During most of his time in charge Nicholson was well ed by assistant manager, Peter Watson.

Glenavon is indebted to Terry for his steadfast work during the 1980s, one of the most difficult periods in the club’s history, and for the success which he achieved at the end of that decade and in the early 1990s.

May he wear his new goalkeeper jersey with pride, keep playing and continue to enjoy his retirement.