::Lurgan Celtic Football Club::

There has been a Lurgan Celtic Football Club since 1903, although it has to be said that little is known about the club from these early days. Early photographs show that the team played in a striped shirt rather than the now famous` Hoops`. Records show that Celtic won the Mid-Ulster Cup in the 1912-13 season but despite research little more is known about the club in the intervening years.

It is known that Lurgan Celtc has gone in and out of existence on several occasions, especially during the war years and also in periods of civil unrest. During the 1950`s and 1960`s they reformed how ever the out break of the Troubles later on in that decade saw the club once again forced to withdraw from their respective leagues .

The mid-to-late 1970s saw the club reform and enjoy relative success in the Mid-Ulster league with varied Cup success. The team now played out of the newly created Glasgow Celtic supporters' club in Church Place and played their games in the local park .
A new decade saw the team once more fall on hard times as Northern Ireland entered another dark period of its history.

Since that and after reforming under the leadership of Barry Douglas the club has not looked back. For several years they played in the Mid-Ulster league climbing the divisions in successive seasons. But this local success was not enough for the severely comitted Douglas. The acquisition of a lease for Grattan Park meant that Lurgan Celtic could now fulfil the criteria for intermediate football. Firstly they entered the Mid-Ulster Intermediate League before entering the Northern Ireland Intermediate League which saw them play teams from all over the country.

A determined Douglas was not going to stop until he could fulfil his dream of seeing Lurgan Celtic play in the Irish League. Following years of trying, and with threatened court action, Lurgan Celtic were finally accepted into the league for the beginning of the 2002 - 2003 season.

This was to be the first time that a Celtic side had played in the league since the demise of Belfast Celtic 48 years previous.
Their first season saw them finish a credible third and gain promotion to the first division, just one league below the top flight in Irish football. How ever their stay at the lofty heights was short-lived and they returned to the second-division where they have stayed for the past two seasons finishing third and forth respectively and just closely missing out on promotion.

The football club itself has been a on a steep learning curve this past several years, going from little more than a Mid-Ulster club to a semi-professional set up. They were the first soccer club in the country to have the innovative idea of raffling a house to raise much-needed funds. The development off the field has continued apace with Lurgan Celtic entering an agreement with local club Oxford Sunnyside to both share and develop their amenities at Knockrammer Park in Silverwood.

For years local talent was forced to go elsewhere in the search of football at a higher level. Through the setting up of a youth academy it is hoped that the local talent will be harnessed to create a team that our whole community can be proud of.

Lurgan Celtic themselves now have three teams which play in Irish League Division Two, Mid Ulster Division One and the Mid-Ulster Youth League. Their association with Oxford Sunnyside now means that football can be provided for children from the age of eight years old right up to Irish League level.

The season just past saw Lurgan Celtic's Irish League side finish 4th and will also reach the semi-final of the Intermediate Cup where they were beaten by eventual winners Donegal Celtic. Our Mid-Ulster team clinched a league and cup double winning the Mid-Ulster Division One, for the first time in the club's history, and also the Alexander Cup .
Everyone connected with Lurgan Celtic is working hard to create a bright future , for all ages and abilities, and with a little backing from the community may be our dream of playing football at the highest level will become a reality.

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Did you know ?

Lurgan Celtic do not have a No. 9 shirt. This was retired as a mark of respect following the untimely death of prolific goal scorer Sean Creaney.

The vice-chairman of Lurgan Celtic is Pat Mc Gibbon father of the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland defender of the same name.

Glasgow Celtic captain Neil Lennon played under age football for Lurgan Celtic. Also in his team were former Barnsley player Jerry Taggart and All-Ireland medal winner with Armagh in 2002 Ger Reid.

The top goal scorer for Lurgan Celtic in the Mid-Ulster league during the 2005-2006 season was local entertainer Barry McKeever who once appeared on BBC's Fame Academy.