50 Years - The Story of the Championship Season PART SIX

The 4-3 defeat to Glenavon on 29th March 1958 was only Ards' second defeat of the league season. They still lead the Lurgan side in the table by two points, though had played more games.

Ards had four matches to play, Glenavon five and there was barely a goal between them. With some in the media suggesting time had finally caught up with Ards, the next game, away to Derry City, was crucial.

On 5th April Ards went to the Brandwell, minus regular goalkeeper Tommy Moffatt as well as Alex Boyd, who currently had ten goals to his name. In a forgetful first half, neither side looked like doing much, with the Derry pitch well known for being one not suited to flowing football. The second was far from full of chances, but the 69th minute did bring the winning goal - captain George Richardson leading from the front again and knocking in his 20th strike of the season.

Ards 4-3 Cliftonville - from The Chronicle

Ards' next game was on Easter Tuesday 1958 at home to Linfield, the side that got the better of Ards three times this season, including a recent win to put George Eastham's side out of the County Antrim Shield. In this game, however Ards finally showed the Blues that they were far from unbeatable. A better start couldn't have been asked for when after only four minutes a shot from Richardson hit the upright, only to rebound out to Davy Lawther, who made no mistake with the finish. A second followed soon after and it was another for Lawther, who ignored the offside calls to finish off calmly. What chances Linfield were conjuring up were all dealt with excellently by Smyth, still deputising for the injured Moffatt. On 67 minutes Lawther scored his third when he raced off from the Linfield defenders to slip the ball home and finally deliver an Ards win against the Blues.

Ards now had two games to play, against Cliftonville and Ballymena, while Glenavon had three - two of those against Ballymena themselves. Away from the senior game Ards Seconds were also close to completing their season and were slowly closing in on not just the B Division championship, but the George Wilson Cup as well. On Saturday 12th April, the Ards first team went to rock-bottom Cliftonville. Ards' last meeting with the Reds had ended 7-2 to the league leaders, but in this encounter Cliftonville ran Ards as close as they had done anyone. A great start had them 3-1 ahead before some fine Ards courage saw them fight back and finally edge out the home side by four to three. Ards goals came courtesy of pair each from Lowry and Humphries.

Two weeks ago all that was asked of Ards was they won their final four matches. This was now three out of the way, with Glenavon staying very much focused on doing the same. Ards' final match was home to Ballymena on 19th April, a game which the Ards programme called 'probably the most important ever'. Ards began the game at a ferocious pace and Ballymena did well to keep the game scoreless in the first few minutes. It took only until the 7th minute for Billy Humphries to give Ards the lead, firing in after a pass from Boyd. Ards maintained the pressure on third-placed Ballymena and eventually found a second goal when some neat passing between Lawther and Richardson ended with Lawther heading in a pinpoint cross from his captain.

Ballymena showed a little around the end of the first half but stout Ards defending kept them scoreless and when Hugh Lowry arrived to score the third goal on 62 minutes Ards had ensured their place at the top of the Irish League could now not be lost. Eastham's team would finish the season 36 points, the same total that Glenavon were capable of should they win their last two remaining matches. With goal difference still years away from being factored in, that situation would trigger a play-off match, but at the moment Ards would have quite a wait for their title. Both of Glenavon's games were against Ballymena, who were down to contest the Irish Cup final against Linfield on the next Saturday. That they won 2-0 and on 28th April finally faced Glenavon in the first of their two games. With a strong of Ards fans in attendance at the game, Glenavon should have been easy winners, as was expected. A half-time draw soon tipped the other way as Ballymena scored a second and then a third to leave Glenavon stunned. There was a late consolation from the Lurgan side but Ballymena held on to their unlikely win and Glenavon's defeat defaulted the championship to Ards.

After 22 games, that had seen 16 wins and only two defeats Ards were champions. Glenavon won their final game to make the winning margin two points. Five Ards players had taken part in all 22 games - Hunter, Forde, Humphries, Richardson and Lowry, who finished the season's top scorer on 30. On Saturday 10th May Ards hosted Shelbourne of the League of Ireland in a benefit match for Seconds manager Jimmy Tucker. At the interval Ards players were presented with their winners' medals and Irish League trophy - the Gibson Cup. The second team were also present, to collect the medals from their own league championship win and also for the George Wilson Cup, that had been won in midweek against Ballyclare.

A victory parade followed in the town that evening, while the following Friday night Ards players and officials were toasted at a Civic Reception in the Town Hall. Thoughts would turn quickly to the next season, when Ards would compete in the European Cup, with every supporter confident that this would be only the start of it... HAIL THE CHAMPIONS!

50 Years - Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five