As the eighties began, the success of the mid-seventies was beginning to seem just a memory, as the side never again regained the promise it had once showed. The club was also losing money and this led to some discontent between the board of directors and some share-holders. This led to a boycott of games and at one such match the attendance was recorded as 63. A number of new faces were brought onto the board and things calmed down for the start of the 82/83 season.

In December of that year Humphries was finally dismissed as manager after not such a poor start to the season and it was well into the nineties before he again set foot inside Castlereagh Park. Jimmy Todd eventually took over the side though could produce no further success for the team and the nineties arrived without a single trophy won during the last decade.

A short-lived spell by the Irish League's most successful ever manager Roy Coyle ended badly as he departed for Derry City. His replacement Paul Malone, although not the most popular manager did lead the team, under David Jeffrey's captaincy, to the Irish Cup final in 1993, where after three games the side was eventually beaten by local rivals Bangor. At Castlereagh Park, improvements were being made with the construction of a new stand and toilet blocks.

A County Antrim Shield final appearance in late 1993 finally brought an end to the trophy famine and after 19 years Ards had some silverware to polish following a 4-2 victory over Crusaders.

The League Cup followed the following year, both trophies won under Roy Coyle, who had returned to the club. There was unrest brewing on the terraces for a number of seasons after that though and many were calling for the replacement of the board, which seemed unable to keep up with the demands of supporters.

Financial problems were being highlighted and in 1998 the directors proposed to the shareholders that the Castlereagh Park ground should be sold to pay off debts and the remaining money used to build a new stadium. This was agreed though the contract and amount received for the ground was kept secret. Those directors were replaced in 2000 by a new consortium of businessmen, who had hoped to save the club but they too soon departed.

Relegation from the top flight of the Irish League was followed by three years in the First Division before Trevor Anderson finally lead his side back to the big time by winning the First Division in 2000/01.

The truth about the ground sale emerged and it was discovered Ards would have quite a fight to gain any of the money agreed for. The club had been given notice to quit Castlereagh Park by the new owners and for a season Ards played games at Solitude in Belfast. An agreement with new ground owners Morrisons of Scotland ensured Ards their payday, though the money was used paying off creditors whose bills just seemed to be increasing.

With little left to build a new stadium Ards found themselves homeless and in 2002/03 played 'home' games in Carrickfergus. A partnership with the local council should lead to a new stadium being built in Newtownards, the envy of the league, but as of the 2008/9 season Ards continue to play as the nomads of Irish League football.

diggers move onto Castlereagh Park in 2002

PHOTOS: Adrian Monaghan: Early Ards, 40s programme, 1952 team, 50s Glenavon, George Eastham, 50s Castlereagh Park, 1958 team, Billy Humphries, Lee stand Andrew McCullough: Billy McAvoy, 1974 team,  Castlereagh Park demolition Billy Graham: Eindhoven BBC: 1st Division