Visitors programme article
Posted : 2nd October 2023 at 19:01:57
Queen’s University Belfast AFC will travel just a short distance down the Malone Road aiming for a repeat of the greatest day in their 113-year history to date, when they stunned Linfield in the Irish Cup fifth round with a 2-1 win over the Blues at The Dub in January 2020.
The winning goal for Queen’s in that almighty shock was scored by former Linfield Swifts' player Jonah Mitchell – son of former Linfield player Phillip Mitchell – as he dispatched a penalty. He was with Dundela last season but is not currently playing for a club, whilst the other goalscorer, Marc McKenna, is still at QUB and will likely be involved against Linfield at Windsor Park.
Their manager from that time, Peter Thompson, left to take up a coaching role on Stephen Baxter’s staff at Crusaders in July 2022, and they are now managed by James Lavery who was a straight replacement. Lavery was previously on Thompson’s staff, and before that he played for the Club, prolifically scoring 120 goals in five seasons. He has been involved with Queen’s for over a decade, firstly as player, then as coach, and now as manager.
Queen’s University have ambitions of being involved in what’s expected to be a thrilling title race in the Premier Intermediate League (formerly known as Championship 2), with the likes of Limavady United, Warrenpoint Town and Ballymacash Rangers all expected to be up there with them in the expanded 14-team league, which was shaped following Warrenpoint Town’s demotion and the promotions of Rathfriland Rangers and Coagh United.
Their main threat is Stewart Nixon, who they did so well to sign on loan from Carrick Rangers, despite well-documented interest from Portadown. Nixon has recently returned from a lengthy lay-off due to an ACL injury and he needed game time, hence the loan move. The former Coleraine striker – who can also play off the right - not only possesses pace and an eye for goal, but also has a long throw-in in his attributes. He’s scored nine goals in his first six matches for the club.
They also have a couple of players with Linfield connections. 30-year-old Benjamin Mulgrew plays in midfield for them – he was included in the 2022/23 PIL Team of the Year and he is the younger brother of Blues’ skipper Jamie Mulgrew. Queen’s also recently signed former Linfield Swifts' player Arberi Karrabecaj – the young winger who has also had spells in the reserve teams of Cliftonville and Portadown.
The University allows for a 25% non association with regards to playing staff whilst the other 75% are required to have studied, or be studying
Adam Calvert
Adam Green
Adam Robinson
Andrew Gawne (GK)
Arberi Karrabecaj
Ben Mulgrew
Cain Hamilton
Chris Middleton
Ciaran O'Hare
Conan Doherty (GK)
Dan Mairs
Eoin Brown
Jack Ovens
James Lavery
John McCooe (GK)
Johnny Mairs
Joshua Corry
Leon Bonnes
Lorcan McIlroy
Marc McKenna
Mark Anderson
Matthew Hughes
McKenzie Pauley (GK)
Mikey Withers
Nathan Kerr (GK)
Oran O'Kane
Ronan Young
Ryan Irvine
Stewart Nixon
Tomas Matthews
Tommy Smyth