"Casting Vote Saves Glens from folding"

Before the start of the 1941-42 season the directors of Glentoran met to consider the club's future.  Some thought the best policy was to quit.  Others led by Tom Williamson, felt they should show the churchillian bulldog spirit by battling on.  A vote taken at a meeting in Belfast's YMCA resulted in a tie.

The chairman Johnny Mercer was left to hold the baby.  He gathered his thoughts for a minute he did not speak.  Then he put his hand on his chin announcing "I'm in favour of playing on".

Life began again, Many went to the aid of Glentoran, Linfield and Distillery offering to share their grounds with those displaced soccer stars of the east.  Distillery's kindness was taken up and so Grosvenor Park became the temporary home of Glentoran.  Not until 1945 was the back to the oval fund started with the pioneers Johnny Mercer (Chairman) J K Wylie (Secretary) and C Corry (Treasurer).

Almost 20 supporters clubs helped in the management of the fund and to celebrate the return an historic record of the club was published under the editorial guidance of Bobby Gregg now a director, everyone desired to see the Oval rise from the ashes.  In those years many players were signed Peter McKenna, Walter McMillen, Jimmy Dykes, Albert Young, Johnny Deakin, Davy "Boy" Martin, Elliott(Wolves), Woodburn(Newcastle Utd), Sagar(Everton), Jackson(RUR), Fields(Arsenal), Neary(Queens Park Rangers) and Bobby Langton(Blackburn Rovers).

The club had had many men who made their mark not alone in guiding it through many vicissitudes but who, in the councils of football also gained distinction.

I quote the names of some:
George B Hanna, John McKnight, Tom H Adams, W E Birkby, Joseph Byers, John Lyttle, Thomas Hall, William Brown, T D Reid, Johnny Mercer, Joseph Shaw, Walter Scott, Robert McIndoo, J A Lough, Sam McKee Weir, D McVeigh, John Cull, Alfie Oger, Norman McIlroy, Harry McNeely, Sandy Chambers, Bob Connery, Dr Brown, Jim Morgan, Tom McNeice, Arthur Bobshay and John Sholdis.

When hostilities ceased new names, new faces, and new players were seen.  Con Martin the Eire International star and trio who were to become among the most outstanding exports of the club Wing half Danny Blanchflower(Spurs), Billy Bingham(Everton), and Jimmy McIlroy(Stoke).

Every Glentoran fan is proud of them.  So is the club who arranged a presentation to all three in recognition of each making more than 50 Northern Ireland International appearances.  Another International star nurtured at the Oval was Stoke full back Alex Elder.

Other players who have made a big impression are Sammy Ewing, Noel McCarthy, Billy Neill, Danno Feeney, Johnny Lavery and Tommy Lucas.  The managerial and coaching chairs have been frequently changed since 1945.  They have been considered hot seats.  Look at this list of men in charge since 1945-46: Frank Thompson, Frank Grice he had terrific success the late Johnny Deakin, Jimmy McIntosh, Ken Chisholm, Tommy Briggs, Johnny Neilson, Harry Walker, Issas McDowell, Gibby McKenzie, Billy Neill, John Colrain, Alex Young and the latest Peter McPharland the former Ireland and Aston Villa left wing star.

An earlier manager was Willie McStay Scotland and Celtic full back, and of course no Glentoran tale would be complete without mention of their trainer for nearly 30 years.  Billy Ritchie the man with the magic hands.  In Bobby McGregor they have found an admirable successor.

Glentoran have frequently been among the silverware.  They won the County Down Cup which had a mythical existence, for there was no such a trophy.  The County Down FA was scrapped before one could be purchased.  Apparently the rules of the County Antrim FA were altered to include all the Belfast clubs so they could compete in the Antrim Shield, Glentoran as a county down club had hitherto been ineligible.

Also held by Glentoran is the Vienna cup which was presented to them when they defeated a champion Austrian team in Vienna in 1914.  It is a trophy which is still talked about today.