Hey folks! Guess what? The members of a legendary Ballymena Technical College hockey team recently had a fantastic reunion. It all started when Jacqueline Bannon, now known as Jacqueline Smith, came back from Australia for a visit. She reached out to some of her old teammates through Facebook, and before they knew it, a small reunion was in the works. Let me take you back to where it all began.
Back in the day, these talented girls first played together at Ballymena Intermediate, under the guidance of their amazing teacher, Mrs. Denise Harper. Little did they know that they were about to become the unstoppable force that was the Technical College junior team.
Just look at the picture above, and you’ll see the fierce squad that dominated the hockey scene. From left to right in the back row, we have Susan McQuiston, Helen Anderson, Christine Eagleson, Ann Armstrong, Heather Hughes, Mina McCartney, Margaret Gray, and Caroline Moore. And in the front row, we have Jacqueline Smith, Gail Lowry, Helen Nelson, Patricia Sloan, and Heather Dodds. What a team!
Let’s fast forward to a Tuesday 48 years ago. The girls were about to face off against Lurgan College in the Northern Ireland Technical Schools’ Junior Cup Final. And boy, did they bring their A-game! Mina McCartney, the unstoppable inside-left, scored a hat-trick, leaving Lurgan in the dust. They managed to sneak in a goal, but Susan McQuiston quickly shut them down with a fourth goal. What a victory!
But the excitement didn’t end there. The very next day, nine of these talented girls represented the Technical College in the Senior final against the highly-fancied Enniskillen College. And guess what? They crushed it! Helen Nelson, the outside right, scored the only goal in the first half, giving Ballymena the lead. And in the second half, they unleashed their full power, scoring four more goals. Jayne Gaston and Susan McQuiston were the stars of the show, each scoring two goals. The final score? A whopping 5-0 in favor of the Ballymena girls. Talk about domination!
All of this success wouldn’t have been possible without their incredible coach, Mrs. Eileen Coulter. She guided these girls to victory and helped them achieve something truly remarkable. The Technical College became double winners, a feat that had never been accomplished before. And what makes it even more special is that nine of these talented ladies played in both finals. Now that’s what I call a legacy!
Recently, six of the nine reunited for a delicious breakfast fry-up. They reminisced about the good old days and caught up on each other’s lives. One of the ladies, Jacqueline Smith, or as her teammates fondly called her, Smithy, just finished playing masters hockey in Australia. It was a heartwarming reunion and the first time they had all been together since their college days.
So, there you have it, folks. The incredible story of the ‘Tech’ hockey team reunion. It’s a testament to the power of friendship, teamwork, and the love for the game. These ladies showed us that with determination and passion, anything is possible. And who knows, maybe their reunion will inspire a new generation of hockey stars. Until next time, keep chasing your dreams and creating your own legendary stories!