The great and the good of Ards Football Club gathered in the Londonderry Room of Newtownards Town Hall on Monday evening to celebrate the launch of Ivor Edgar's comprehensive history of Ards FC - Red and Blue Heaven.

An excellent crowd of supporters, former players, local businessmen and town dignitaries packed the venue to hear Ivor Edgar's story of how he became involved in this labour of love project. Guest speakers included our Mayor, Robin Drysdale and BBC correspondent Michael McNamee, a former pupil of Ivor's at the Royal School in Dungannon.

Ivor Edgar

The big names in attendance however, were undoubtedly two Ards legends - former player-manager and Northern Ireland international Billy Humphries and prolific 1960s goal-scorer Mick Lynch. Mick, who had travelled from Dublin for the event, spoke very fondly of his time at Ards, a place he confessed to having known little about prior to his arrival, and also heaped praise on Billy Humphries.

Following the official launch, a second gathering in the social club allowed supporters at large to speak with author Ivor and the Ards legends as well as more recent names Darren Erskine, Paul Kee and John Bailie.

Brisk trade was done on the book itself, a 368-page effort published by Ballyhay Books, which chronicles football in Newtownards from 1900 when in fact, the club we know as Ards, might well have been formed. There is also a wealth of information for the statistician among us too.

The book is on sale now at £16.99 from Ards Football Club via the sports club premises, as well as through other usual outlets.

first published 27th November 2007