Loughgall F.C.

Loughgall Football Club is a semi-professional Northern Irish football club currently playing in the NIFL Championship.

Loughgall

Full name	Loughgall Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Villagers
Founded	1967; 58 years ago (1967)
Ground	Lakeview Park
Capacity	1,650
Chairman	Sam Nicholson
Manager	Darren Murphy
League	NIFL Championship
2024–25	NIFL Premiership, 12th of 12 (relegated)
Website	https://loughgallfc.co.uk/
Home colours Away colours
Current season

History

The club, founded in 1967, is situated in the village of Loughgall, near Armagh in County Armagh and they play their home games in the village at Lakeview Park. The club was accepted into the old Irish League B Division in 1991, having played largely at junior level prior. Alfie Wylie is their longest serving manager, being in charge from 1986 to 1999. In the 1996–97 season, the club would have a good season, notably defeating Cliftonville in the League Cup, winning the Bob Radcliffe cup and reaching the semi-final of the Irish Cup. In the space of four years, the Lakeview Park side would win four consecutive B Divisions however would not be granted election to the 1st Division, being overlooked for other, arguably bigger clubs further down the league table.

First Premiership foray, Championship era and Premiership return (2004-)

They achieved senior status in 2004 on promotion to the Irish Premier League, but reverted to intermediate status upon relegation in 2007. In 2007, under the management of Niall Currie, the club had their most successful season, winning the first division, Bob Radciffe, Mid Ulster Cup, Intermediate Cup and Carnegie League Cup. The villagers would win the league again in 2009–10 but would not be promoted. On 3 March 2018, Loughgall defeated Glenavon 2–1 to reach the semi-final of the Irish Cup for the first time since 1997.^[1]

In April 2023, the club would return to the NIFL Premiership for the first time since 2007, following a 3–1 win away to Dundela.^[2] In being promoted, the village of Loughgall would become the smallest settlement, with a population of 283, to have a top flight team in Europe.^[3] The club would start their season away to Newry City. The club would perform incredibly well in the top flight, securing a notable victory over champions Larne, and finishing well clear of the relegation zone. The villagers plaudits would see manager Dean Smith receive Manager of the Year from the NIFWA. Striker Benji Magee had been subject of significant interest from Larne, Glentoran and Walsall following a strong campaign with the club, before securing a move to champions Larne in August 2024. ^[4]

Current squad

As of 24 August 2025^[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  NIR Ross Glendinning 3 DF  NIR Ollie Crowe (On loan from Dungannon Swifts) 4 DF  NIR Ben Murdock (Captain) 5 DF  NIR Dougie Wilson 6 MF  NIR Robbie Norton 7 MF  BRA Pablo Andrade 8 MF  NIR Adhamh Towe 9 FW  NIR Darragh Stewart (On loan from Dungannon Swifts) 10 FW  NIR Andrew Hoey 14 DF  NIR Harry Norton

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 DF  NIR Reece Jordan (On loan from Cliftonville) 18 FW  NIR Paul McElroy 19 DF  NIR Lewis Francis 22 FW  NIR Aaron Prendergast (On loan from Glenavon) 25 DF  IRL James Carroll 29 FW  NIR Conor McCloskey 30 MF  NIR Francis McCaffrey 31 GK  GER Berraat Türker 32 FW  NIR Kirk McLaughlin

Managerial history

• Noel Willis (1967–70)
• George Willis (1970–76)
• Sam Robinson (1977–81)
• Raymond Nesbitt (1983–84)
• Willie Forbes (1984–85)
• Alfie Wylie (1986–99)
• Alan Fraser (1999)
• Ronnie Cromie (1999–01)
• Jimmy Gardiner (2001–06)
• Shane Reddish (2006–07)
• Niall Currie (2007–Feb 2011)
• Colin Malone (May 2011–Aug 2013)
• Gary McKinstry (Aug 2013–Dec 2013)
• Brian Adair (Dec 2013–Dec 2014)
• Noel Mitchell (Jan 2015–May 2015)
• Stephen Uprichard and Steven Hawe (May 2015–November 2016)
• Dean Smith (November 2016-March 2025)

Honours

Senior honours

• NIFL Championship: 1
  • 2022–23
• Mid-Ulster Cup: 3
  • 2003–04, 2007–08, 2019–20

(Note: The NIFL Championship gained senior status in 2016, having previously been an intermediate competition.)

Intermediate honours

• Irish League B Division/First Division /IFA Intermediate League/IFA Championship: 7
  • 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10
• Irish Intermediate Cup: 2
  • 1997–98, 2007–08
• IFA Intermediate League Cup: 1
  • 2007–08
• Bob Radcliffe Cup: 12
  • 1978–79, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2014–15