Dear Supporters, Volunteers, Sponsors, and Staff,
As we approach Christmas and prepare to enter 2026, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful festive season and to share some thoughts as we stand at a crucial juncture in our season.
This has been another significant period in Larne Football Club’s ongoing story. In July, we experienced a major ownership transition as Kenny Bruce handed over his shareholding to Redball Global FC, with Nick Giannotti and Eric Perez joining our board. While periods of change can often bring uncertainty, I’m immensely proud of how we’ve embraced this considerable transition and continued our journey in such a positive, seamless manner. The new ownership group has been nothing short of fantastic in their professionalism and backing of everything we’re striving to achieve.
This commitment has been highlighted in no small way by our recent contract extension announcements. Players like Chris Gallagher, Matthew Ridley, Mark Randall, Leroy Millar, Paul O’Neill, and Rohan Ferguson have all committed their futures to the club, demonstrating not only the new ownership’s vision and commitment to Larne FC, but also providing us on the operational board with the ability to deliver a clear message of stability during this period of change. Additionally, the appointment of Alex Black as our football consultant has brought valuable experience and expertise to our football operations, further strengthening our infrastructure.
Our European adventure earlier in the campaign, where we competed in the UEFA Conference League, continues to represent what this club can achieve when we set our sights high. Our experiences on the continental stage have whet our appetite again, strengthened us, and we want more of them.
Now, as we enter the second half of the 2025/26 season, Gary Haveron, his backroom staff, and our players are working incredibly hard and performing admirably on the pitch. Week after week, they’re giving everything for this club, displaying commitment, skill, and determination that makes us all proud to be associated with Larne FC. The standards they’re setting and the football they’re playing deserve our full recognition and appreciation.
But I must be direct with you all – they need significantly more from us in 2026.
We need to see more of you at Inver Park as we push through the critical second half of this season. Our players are pouring their hearts into every match, and they deserve to feel the roar and passion of our support behind them for the full ninety minutes of every single game. Inver Park has been a fortress in the past, and we absolutely must make it that way again. The atmosphere we create, the noise we generate, the intimidation we provide to visiting teams – these aren’t optional extras; they are fundamental components of our success.
When we travel away from home, our players need to hear your voices rising above the opposition supporters, just like we did at Seaview on Saturday. They need to know that whether we’re in Belfast, Portadown, Coleraine, or anywhere else across Northern Ireland, you’re there with them, backing them through every challenge and every moment. That vocal support, that unwavering belief – it can lift the team when they’re under pressure and can make all the difference between dropping points and claiming vital victories.
As we move into 2026, there are still fantastic opportunities ahead of us this season. We’re competing on two fronts, and with the league campaign reaching its decisive stages, every match takes on added significance. But we cannot maximise these opportunities without you. Football is nothing without its supporters, and we are nothing without the Larne faithful. The connection between the terraces and the pitch is what makes this club truly special, and we need that connection to be stronger and more vibrant than ever in the months ahead.
To our incredible volunteers – you remain the absolute backbone of everything we achieve. Whether you’re maintaining our facilities, supporting our youth programs, helping on match days, working in our community initiatives, or contributing behind the scenes in countless other ways, your dedication embodies the community spirit that defines Larne FC. You give your time and energy freely, and for that, we are eternally grateful.
To our sponsors and business partners – your continued investment and unwavering belief in our vision enables us to compete at the highest level and to maintain the professional standards our club demands. In challenging economic times, your support is more valuable than ever, and we remain committed to ensuring that our partnership delivers real value and shared success for all involved.
To our staff – from the boardroom to the dressing room, from the office to the pitch, from administration to match day operations – your professionalism, commitment, and genuine passion drive this club forward every single day. The standards you uphold, both on and off the pitch, are what make us all proud to be part of the Larne FC family.
And to the families of everyone involved with our club – thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. The demands placed on your loved ones are considerable, especially during this intense period of the season, and your backing allows them to pursue the ambitious goals we’ve set for ourselves.
As we head into 2026, I’m issuing a rallying cry to all of you. Let’s make Inver Park the intimidating, electric fortress it needs to be. Let’s travel in numbers that make visiting grounds feel like home. Let’s show Gary, his coaching staff, and our players that we’re right there alongside them in this journey. They’re fulfilling their responsibilities on the pitch with distinction – now we must fulfil ours from the stands and terraces.
This is our moment. This is our season to make an impact. But we can only achieve what we’re capable of achieving if all of you are part of it. Your presence matters. Your voice matters. Your passion matters.
From everyone at the club, we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the festive period, cherish time with loved ones, but as we enter this period and into January 2026, let’s do so with renewed energy, increased numbers, and unwavering determination to make the second half of this season truly memorable.
Together, we can achieve great things. But only together.
We Are Larne!
Gareth Clements
