On Saturday 8th August 2026, Glenavon FC will face Ards at Mourneview Park for their first BOYLE Sports Championship match of the season. The Newtownards club has struggled since being demoted from the Premiership in 2018-19 and finished eighth last year with a record of 38 games played (15 wins, 7 draws, 16 losses), scoring 56 goals while conceding 51.
Glenavon’s new signings include Lorcan Donnelly as goalkeeper, Deaglan Healy and Mark Patton in midfield, Alex Watson, Ethan Devine, Brandon Doyle, and Ryan Waide up front. Manager Michael O'Connor is confident about the impact these players will have on the team's performance this season.
‘We have strengthened in important areas,’ said O’Connor. ‘The three lads up front have all played in the Championship. They bring different attributes to the team, and I hope they help us convert more chances into goals.’
O'Connor is also excited about the integration of his new players with the existing squad: 'It’s important to establish a strong bond right from the start. We don’t want any disruptive influences. Thankfully, everyone is united and pulling in the same direction.'
The Blues’ boss is particularly optimistic about Mark Patton's role: ‘He will bring composure, calmness, and intelligence when we are in possession,’ he explained. ‘He will also be a really positive voice in the dressing room. He is exactly the type of player and person we need.’
O'Connor is looking forward to the new campaign and aims to return Glenavon FC to the Premiership as quickly as possible. 'The rest of the coaches and I feel to some degree responsible for what happened last time, so we are very keen to start playing competitive matches again and begin to put things right,' he said.
Despite their optimism, O'Connor is taking nothing for granted: ‘The Championship is different to the Premiership. It is physical, there are quick transitions, plenty of long balls, and battles for second balls. Quality alone does not guarantee anything. We will need to do the ugly side of the game well every Saturday if our ability is to come through.’
He expects Ards to be a tough opponent: ‘I have watched three of their pre-season matches. John Bailie seems to have recruited well. They are disciplined, well organised and have some attacking players who can hurt opponents. But we have a game plan. We have worked on it in training. Hopefully, we are solid at the back, exploit some of Ards’s weaknesses and turn possession into goals.’
Finally, Michael appealed for Glenavon supporters to attend matches in numbers: ‘The fans have been tremendous since I arrived. They have backed the team wholeheartedly both home and away. They can be the twelfth man again.’
