Football is back

It's been a month now since our last match, since then we've had the world cup bid announcements, had our xmas parties, we've been snowed in, had minus 10 or more temperatures, scoffed our Christmas dinner , had burst pipes, been with no water.  It's felt as long as a summer break only it's winter time, Saturday afternoons just haven't been the same so the sooner 3pm on Saturday comes and the Stripes take to the pitch the better.

 

When Saturday comes it will be like the beginning of the season again.  Since Saturday 27th November we've had Portadown in the CIS Cup called off three times, Newry away called off, Dungannon at home called off and Ballymena away called off.  On the plus side we should have the whole squad fit nearly and Leon back who would have missed the games had they have been played, but on the downside we have a massive backlog of games to be played.

 

I'm sure we are all itching at the bit to get along to the game on Saturday, the old routine back, meeting your mates, few pints, and hopefully some good action on the park.  Nothing more would make my Christmas holidays than Coleraine to take three points at home to Cliftonville this Saturday and what a start to the new year it would be. 

 

Saturday will see our third meeting of the season against the North Belfast Reds, so far we have won both games and are unbeaten in our last seven games against Cliftonville. The last match between the two sides saw us win 

3-1 with Knight scoring twice and Carson also scoring. After losing our last two home games against Glentoran and Portadown, it's vital we win on Saturday as currently we are 8th in the table and nine points of the top six, a gap which needs to be closed ASAP before it gets any bigger.

 

Cliftonville will be in high spirits after their 2-1 derby victory over the Crues on Monday, where Mark Holland scored an 89th minute winner.  Although we haven't had a game in over a month, the players have been training hard and making use of indoor facilities, so hopefully come Saturday the players our sharp, fit, rested and ready to take all three points at the Showground's.

 

So as the build up continues to the biggest party night of the year, I find hard to get motivated for it, because Coleraine v Cliftonville is the biggest attraction for me this weekend.

 

 

Match Info

Beverland, Watt and Black are suspended for Coleraine

Coleraine are unbeaten in last seven games against Cliftonville

Coleraine have lost their last two home games

Cliftonville are currently 3rd in the Carling Premiership

 

This Weeks Coleraine News

On Tuesday Coleraine were due to travel to play Portadown in the quarter final of the CIS Cup, however due to the weather this came was postponed once again.

 

Tuesday night saw the club shop open for the final time before Christmas

 

Last weekend saw the Ballymoney and Railway Enders Coleraine Supporters Clubs hand over cheques to Coleraine FC, this was greatly appreciated by the club.

 

Sunday saw the Social Club hold their xmas draw and Karaoke night

 

The last game Coleraine have played was on Sat 27th Nov at home to Portadown

 

Next home game - Ballymena v Coleraine on Mon 27th Dec - however due to the current weather it looks unlikely this game will go ahead.

 

On boxing day, Coleraine Football Club will be open and showing live football, everyone is welcome along for a days craic.

 

Leon Knight to spend Christmas in Coleraine due to current weather he can't risk a flight home as he couldn't guarantee he would be back for the derby game should it go ahead.

 

Jimmy Calvin has been appointed Coleraine Academy Liaison Officer

This Weeks Coleraine News

Tuesday night the Stripes were due to travel to face Portadown in the CIS Cup quarter final - Didn't have to, as for the 2nd time in a row Portadowns pitch has been frozen and the game was callled off.

Wednesday saw the 5th round of the irish cup draw - Coleraine will be away against the winners of Limavady or Wakehurst. With the tie due to be played on Saturday 15th January 2011.

Next game weather permitting is Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts in the Carling Premierhsip on Sat 18th December.

CIS Cup Quarter Final - Portadown v Coleraine has been re-arranged for Tues 21st December - kick off 7.45pm

Club Shop - The club shop will be open on Saturday from 1-5pm, it will also be open Tues 21st Dec from 7-9pm

Coleraine Social Club - Hosts it's Xmas draw on Sunday, loads of prizes, plus only £2 a pint during Chelsea v Man Utd - kick off 4pm.

Players suspended for next match - Watt, Beverland & Black.

Coleraine Social Club will be presenting a cheque to Coleraine Football Club this Saturday

Christmas fun day at home to Dungannon -  

all under-16's (accompanied by a paying adult) will gain free entry to the match, whilst all under-11's will also receive a free selection box. However, the kids won't get it all their own way as adults will receive a free ticket for a half-time raffle to win a luxury Christmas hamper. Half-time will also see fans taking part in a penalty kick competition against Santa himself!

Bannsiders take on Swifts - or maybe not

Weather permitting, far too often I'm typing this now, Coleraine host Dungannon Swifts at home in the Carling Irish Premiership this Saturday.  It's time to forget Christmas for 2 hours between 3-5pm this Saturday as Coleraine aim to get back on track in the league and pick up three points before we travel for the xmas derby away to our fluffy friends on Monday 27th December.

 

Coleraine have taken maximum points in their last two home games against Dungannon, and with Dungannon currently below us in the league this is a massive game for Coleraine to collect three points and move clear of the bottom teams. No disrespect to the Swifts but Coleraine should be taking all points at home to them this weekend, if not the players deserve a swift boot up the arse.  In what has been a disappointing season so far, it's important Coleraine win this Saturday and give the fans some cheer to take into Christmas and give the club a lift.

 

Dungannon lost at home last weekend to Ballymena and also had two players sent off, Coleraine had another weekend off due to the bad weather postponing their game away to Newry last Friday night.

 

On Tues night we were meant to travel to play Portadown in the CIS cup quarter final, however that game was also called off due to a frozen pitch at one end of their ground, which means Coleraine will still have Watt, Beverland and Black suspended for the game against Dungannon.

 

As I type, snow is forecast along with freezing temps, so it looks like we will have another free Saturday without football and Coleraine will take a big money hit, it's frustrating, disappointing and most of costing the club money again.

 

On Saturday the Coleraine Social Club will donate a cheque to Coleraine Football Club which will be a great boost to the clubs finances, so well done on everyone supporting the Social Club.

 

 

 

Match Info

Dungannons Nickname - The Swifts

Dungannons Manager - Dixie Robinson

Michael Hegarty of Coleraine used to play for Dungannon Swifts

Watt, Beverland and Black of Coleraine are suspended for the game.

Snow Good with no Football

It's nice to watch out the window when it's falling, it's good when it's fluffy and settles nicely so you can roll a nice big snowman, stick a carrot in him, few stones and a silly hat and scarf, it's fun, YES I know, I've built one.

 

However one thing which ain't great about it is the nice green grass at our clubs ground is now covered in this fluffy snow and with temperatures dropping into the minus it means our lovely pitches are more suitable for skiing than the beautiful game.  We seen the mess it caused last season, all covered in snow, then it thaws, then it's lying in water and it then freezes over.

 

Not only is it costing clubs money it's costing the fans their weekend fun and days out, but we just have to get on with it, some good comes out of it along with the bad, the good being Leon Knight who would have missed Portadown and Newry away because of injury will now hopefully be back for them games, injured players in our squad will have had a two week rest, Coleraine FC haven't had any home games in the past two weeks to fall short of the weather and were still in the CIS Cup.  However the downfall is getting dragged to the shops or the daily building of snowmen.

 

Lets hope that this weather clears up, snow disappears and the temperatures rise and our home game against Dungannon next Saturday can go ahead, it what will be a massive game for us on the weekend before Christmas, not only is it a big game for the team and the fans, but the club as a whole will welcome a game, for the gate money, bar takings in what I'm sure is a Saturday that the Bannsiders will be looking a beer in the run up to Christmas.  It would be a nice boost and early Christmas present for the club and it's followers if the game goes ahead and we can take three points heading into Christmas.

 

Last season Coleraine were flying in the league until the cold snap kicked in and called our 3 home games in a row off along with other games, if affected us, fixtures piled up, the break caused our form to dip, lets hope this season it works to our advantage and when we get back we hit form. So if the weather clears up and the games goes ahead, make an effort and support your local club next Saturday.

 

Ps. Keep and eye out in case the club needs you the fans to help clear the pitch this year.

 

Up for the Cup - weather permitting

After the last two weekends and the shambles produced on the pitch by Coleraine FC, two defeats against two sides who are below us in the league, two weeks in a row our keepers have gifted the other teams goals, it's not good enough, the team is underachieving, the league table doesn't lie, the fans have had enough and it's time for the players to come out and proved to us they are worth a Coleraine shirt on a Saturday afternoon. 

 

The next three games coming up for Coleraine are massive, Portadown in the cup, followed by Newry away and Dungannon at home. Newry are currently 2nd bottom and only three points behind us, whilst Dungannon are 3rd bottom and only one point behind us. A defeat at Newry would put us in big trouble, a club like Coleraine should not be concerned about relegation, but about reaching the top six, currently we are seven points away from the top six.  So it's vital the club takes points in the next couple of league games anything less is unacceptable.

 

The harsh facts are that we have lost 12 league games already this season, not drawn once and we are the leagues lowest goalscorers. It's not good enough and it's not acceptable.

 

Weather permitting on Saturday Coleraine take a break from league action as they travel to face Portadown in the Quarter Final of the CIS Cup.  Portadown beat us 3-1 very easily last weekend, to be fair many a team would have beat us easily as we handed out goals like Santa hands out presents.  Davy is under pressure to get a win this Saturday, if we lose again and exit the cup, Davy will be under more pressure than a Turkey coming up to Christmas.  For Davy's sake and the fans I hope the players can give us something to shout about and lead us into the semi finals, at least it would give the Bannsiders something to look forward to in the new year.

 

We all remember last seasons memorable cup run which unfortunately ended in a penalty shoot out defeat against Glentoran in the final. It was this time last year when Coleraine travelled to play Cliftonville in the 1st leg of the quarter final, Coleraine defeated the favourites that day 3-2, so hopefully we can produce something the same this season and stay in the cup, because right now the club and the fans need a boost, the temperatures are freezing so on Saturday the fans need a winning performance to heat them up, if not then the players ears will be heated up.

 

Our last visit to Shamrock Park was in September, Portadown were the winners that day by two goals to nil. In our two visits to Shamrock Park last season the Ports beat us easily both times, in the first game they won 4-0 and in front of the Sky TV cameras they won 3-1. By our recent record at Shamrock Park you wouldn't be wrong to think it will be the same old same old and Portadown will run out winners, so we need the players to end our horrid run at Shamrock Park and get a result up their for a change. Don't let big tash man Ronnie and his team defeat us two weeks in a row and for the third time this season. 

 

 

When the teams not playing well and results are poor, fans question themselves, will I bother going, what's the point, etc, well it's in our blood ain't it, it's an addiction, we just keep going, we always cling onto that little bit of hope. To sum it up

We ain't playing well, Leon is now out injured, were inconsistent, were gifting team goals but we've a decent squad and with more fight, heart and belief, I believe we can still win this cup, the Blues are out, who else do we really fear.  I'm up for the cup - are you the Coleraine players up for the cup.  Prove us wrong this Saturday and send us into the semi finals.

 

C'mon the Stripes.

 

 

Match Info

Portadowns Ground - Shamrock Park

Leon Knight - out injured

John Watt - suspended

David Ogilby - cup tied

The tie is played to a finish

Coleraine have lost their last two away games