Famous Colours Came from Dublin Club

Glentoran's original colour scheme was not an Ulster-bred idea for it was only after they inspected very closely the blazers of Na-Shulas a touring Dublin side, at the North of Ireland Grounds, Ormeau Road, that a group of lads, already keen soccer enthusiasts, decided to adopt the same three-tone scheme for the newly-formed Glentoran club, Red, Green and Black.  Every Glenman is proud to wear ties and scarves with these colours.

The name Glentoran was also bothered by those youngsters.  They took it from the residence of the first club president, Mr Maurice Coates father of Sir William Coates in Lagan village now known as Ravenhill Road.

Matches were played in Ormeau Park and the first team to wear the colours was Wright, Cunningham, Silo, Sloan and Brown, Reid, McVicker, Holland, McManus, Wilson, Steel.  Even in those days there were unorthodox formations with six forwards and two half backs, so after all the 4-2-4 and other cults are not really new ideas at all.

Formed by players from two junior clubs in Oakfield and Bettlefield.  Glentoran were later strenghtened by members of Avoniel original Irish Cup contestants, who went out of existence in 1883, the year the charity cup was instituted by Mr W C Mitchell, Irish FA vice president.

By 1885 when it was evident soccer had come to Ulster to say those Ormeau Park pitches obviously did not meet the growing requirements of the club.  So a move was made to Westbourne, or Kings Field.

This was the where the enthusiasm really began to emerge.  Anyone around then could have watched the players and officials preparing the new arena - cutting the knee high grass, erasing the humps and the hollows and erecting the goalposts.

Most of the workers too were players, among them John McVicker, who on joining Macclesfield was one of the first Irish players in cross channel football.  He eventually gained International recognition.

Assisted by some members of the Black Watch, stationed in Belfast, the Glentoran players of the formative years couldn't settle.  They sought bigger and better pitches from King's Field, on part of whch Templemore Avenue School now stands, them moved to Musgrave Field.

Today it is the site of an engineering firm.  Then another ground was obtained in Dee street, reckoned by everyone as the heart of Glentoran territory, and the present Oval is the second ground of that name in the locality.

When the Irish league commenced i 1890, Glentoran were one of the foundation clubs.  Even in those days Linfield were their greatest rivals and the ever existent sporting sets of supporters is so gaping you could almost build a motorway in it.

Glenmen....Bluemen.  They are a race apart in Ulster football and perhaps more important still, they are the rich red lifeblood of it.

Club re-organisation took place in 1899 when at the annual meeting Mr T D Reid was appointed honorary secretary.  It was decided also that a limited liability company should be established, thus encouraging workers of the district to develop a greater interest in its affairs.

Priority was given to axquiring the present playing playing pitch, then a most umpromising plot, still the Glentoran executive got down to work, months and months of hard labour providing stand accomodation dressing rooms, cycling and cinder tracks.  Sports meetings were staged including the British Empire cycling championships, in fact at that time no club in Ireland possessed superior facilities.