Derriaghy CC (Northern Ireland)

Derriaghy Cricket Club Football Club, to give them their full name, is an amateur football club that plays in the Northern Amateur Football League in Northern Ireland. They are based within eyesight of New Grosvenor Park, the home of Lisburn Distillery, about ten miles south of Belfast.

In 1982, the long-established Derriaghy CC decided to add a football section, initially joining the Lisburn League before becoming members of the Northern Amateur Football League in time for the 1987-88 season.

Reserve sections were added to Derriaghy’s portfolio, whose first team home games were played at Seycon Park across the valley in sight of the home of Lisburn Distillery’s New Grosvenor Stadium.

The 2011-12 campaign saw Derriaghy win promotion to add to their Division 2B title wins of 1994-95 and 1997-98 to reach the Premier Division, as well as lifting the Clarence Cup, the league cup of the competition. A seventh-place league finish followed the following season.

However, the club dropped back down to Division 1A, where they were crowned as champions in 2013-14, to return to the top flight, where the team marked their return with a sixth-place finish.

Relegation was narrowly averted in 2016-17 and 2017-18 before a slight improvement twelve months later. Fourth place was achieved in 2021-22, before Derriaghy finished as runners-up in 2024-25 under manager Owen Forsythe.

Derriaghy Cricket Club FC will play in the NAFL Premier Division in the 2025-26 season.

My visit

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

I was in the middle of a groundhop around Ulster, as well as fitting in a couple of games. My intended target was New Grosvenor Park and Lisburn Distillery FC. I was using my Google map, which sent me through an estate and then towards McIlroy Park, named after Burnley legend Jimmy McIlroy, who was brought up nearby.

Looking to my right, I saw an enclosed ground perched on top of a bank. The ground was surrounded by high steel mesh fences and was very neatly kept. I looked across and saw the club's name displayed. There was also a small cover on the far side.

On my return to London, my PC friend Wikipedia gave me the lowdown on the club, as did some of the posters on the Irish League’s fans forum. The problem is that it enthused my curiosity. I now know of at least half a dozen new venues I simply must visit. Any excuse!