Matthews, Bothwell, Cathcart, Kincaid and Mowat. Just some of the names that many Ards fans would have had in their greatest ever Ards side. Great players, no doubt, but not favoured highly enough by the visitors of ardsfc.co.uk in the summer of 2002, when they were asked to submit the names of the best eleven men ever to pull on an Ards shirt.

Over nine weeks supporters voted for a player to fill each position and then finally a manager to lead the 'fantasy' side. The original contenders for the side surely numbered in their thousands and they were expertly cut down by facts man Billy Graham, before being put to the public vote. For most positions there were clear winners, though the following names may not sit easily in everyone's ideal line-up.

So here we present the Greatest Ever Ards XI, as voted by the visitors of ardsfc.co.uk in the hundredth year of Ards Football Club.

Alan Fettis

Joined Ards from Glentoran for the 1988-89 season and debuted against Cliftonville in the Gold Cup on 8th October 1988. Alan spent three seasons at Ards, making 65 appearances before his transfer to Hull City. He is a Schoolboy, Youth, 'B' and full Northern Ireland international. Alan was named Ards Player of the Year for 1990/91 season.

Syd Patterson

Syd played 195 times for Ards following his arrival for the 1970/71 season, having previously been with Glenavon, Distillery and Glentoran. He made his debut against Derry City on 15th August 1970 in the Ulster Cup and went on to win Co Antrim Shield, Gold Cup, Ulster Cup, Irish Cup and Blaxnit Cup winners' medals with Ards. He scored 24 goals for the club and also played four times for the Irish League representative side.

Don Johnston

He joined Ards from home club Carrick Rangers and made his debut against Coleraine on 8th April 1968 in the league's Top Four Cup. Some thirty years ago Don was playing in a position now known as wing-back and acted effectively as another forward for Ards. He played 263 times over seven seasons, scored 19 goals and won medals in the Ulster, Gold and Irish Cups and the Co Antrim Shield.

David Jeffrey

David was a Manchester United youth player who returned home to join Linfield before coming to Ards in 1992. After his debut in a win against Portadown on 15th August, he went on to captain Ards to their first trophy in twenty years, the County Antrim Shield in 1994. In his three seasons with Ards, David scored 6 goals in 113 appearances.

Tommy Forde

Was George Eastham's first signing in the summer of 1953 and had played previously for Glenavon, Distillery and Wolves. He debuted as a forward against Portadown on 15th August but was later moved to half-back, where his career blossomed. Tommy won Gold Cup, Co Antrim Shield and a League Championship medal with Ards and was the first North End Ards Player of the Year in 1959. While at Ards he won 7 inter-league caps and played for Northern Ireland four times. After 316 games and 40 goals, he joined Distillery in 1962.

Damien Byrne

The big Dubliner joined Ards in 1985 from Crusaders and first appeared against Bangor in a Gold Cup game on 5th October. He was named Player of the Year twice in his only two seasons at the club and left after playing 77 times and scoring 2 goals.

Marty McCann

Marty came to Ards from his hometown club Derry in 1993 and made his first appearance on 14th August against Portadown. He went on to win medals in the Co Antrim Shield and League Cup, as well as great affection from the fans. He played 116 times, scored 18 goals and in 1996 was named the Rose & Crown Supporters' Player of the Year.

Billy Nixon

Billy joined Ards on his return from England after being transferred out of Distillery by new Ards manager George Eastham and made his debut on 7th August 1965 against Derry City. In his playing days he would go on to win two Irish Cups, Co Antrim Shield, Gold, Ulster and Blaxnit Cups and the Player of the Year award twice. He played 502 games and scored 25 goals and although he retired from playing in 1976, he went on to manage Ards Seconds, then the first team and like Billy Humphries was a tremendous servant to Ards FC.

Billy Humphries

Billy debuted for Ards on 24th August 1955 against Glenavon and won a League Championship medal in 1957/58 before his transfer to Leeds United for £5000. A year later he rejoined Ards and won his first international cap, which would lead to another cross-channel transfer to Coventry. After a further 13 Northern Ireland caps, George Eastham brought Billy back to Ards in 1969 and he won the Irish Cup that season.

Billy took over as player-manager in 1970 and was named weeks later as the Ulster Footballer of the Year, an award he won again in 1972. He was Ards Player of the Year twice and was manager when the four trophies were won in 1973/74. Following 12 inter-league caps, Billy retired from playing in 1976 and after serving as manager, director and social club manager, he was dismissed by the club in 1982. He played 578 games and scored 138 times.

Darren Erskine

Darren signed from Ards Rangers in 1991 and made his debut against Portadown on 17th August 1991 in the Ulster Cup, a game he scored in. After four years and 104 goals in 176 appearances, Darren was transferred to Linfield for £35 000. He had been the Ards Player of the Year in seasons 92/93 and 93/94. After three years at Linfield, he returned to Ards for the 1998/99 season but injury was to restrict him to only a further 30 games and 14 goals.

Billy McAvoy

Billy progressed though the ranks at Ards before making his senior debut on 27th February 1965 in a league game against Coleraine. He then went on to become the most prolific goal scorer Ards have ever known, with his record of 301 goals in 410 matches quite possibly never to be beaten. Billy was Ards Player of the Season in 1968/69 and was also Ulster Footballer of the Year that same season. His four goals scored in the 1969 Irish Cup final replay against Distillery equalled Joe Bambrick's 1930 record for Linfield. While with Ards, Billy won two Irish Cup medals and also won the Co Antrim Shield, Blaxnit, Ulster and Gold Cups.

Manager George Eastham Snr

George Eastham arrived at Ards following a successful playing career in England where he had won an England international cap. He was appointed Ards manager in the summer of 1953 and alongside his son, also George, made his debut on 15th August against Portadown. Eastham was to bring the first and only League Championship to Ards and also delivered wins in the Co Antrim Shield, Gold Cup and Irish Cup. He also took Ards into Europe twice, where they met Rheims of France and Italians AS Roma. He also had managerial success in Northern Ireland with Distillery and Glentoran.

first published 10th December 2002