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The
decade opened with a lot of promise as new manager, Billy Hamilton,
re-built the team. By the start of the 1992/93 season he had strengthened
it to be a force to be reckoned with. A good run in the League that
season saw them finish in 5th position only 4 points behind the
winners, Linfield. Then in 1993/94 they won the Gold Cup and were
runners-up in the Budweiser Cup a year later. The dream ended with
relegation at the end of 1994/95. However the decade ended on a
high with Paul Kirk guideing the team to winning the Ulster Cup
and the First Division Championship and promotion to the Premier
League.
1
DAVY COLLINS
had been at Peterborough for a spell befors making his debut on
28-3-92 and keeping a clean sheet. He played in every game of the
92/93 season which was part of a sequence of 94 consecutive games
--- just one short of Derek Meldrum's then all-tims record. he therefore
holds the club record of consecutive appearances for a goalkeeper.
He helped win the Gold Cup in 93/94 making vital saves especially
in the penalty shoot-out against Cliftonville and was selected for
the NI U-21 squad in March 1994. He lost his place to Simon Houston
in November 1994 and was loaned out to Newry Town. An injury crisis
saw him recalled in February 1995. Over his 5 season career he made
153 appearances conceding 206 goals at an average of 1.35 per game
which is the best conceding ratio of any post-war Distillery keeper.
He also kept clean sheets in 44 of these games which is second only
to Billy Smyth's post-war record of 62. In August 1996 he moved
on to Linfield.
2
JOHN DRAKE
made his debut on 15-8-87. He played for 9 seasons mainly at right-back
though he also played in midfield at the start of his Distillery
career. He left the club in August 1990 to play for Cliftonville
for a brief spell before returning in February 1991. He took part
in the Gold Cup success of 1993/94. He made 333 appearances and
scored 2 goals before joining Glentoran in August 1996.
3
CHRIS DEEGAN
arrived in September 1998 having played for Southampton Reserves
and made his debut on 5-9-98. A strong classy left-back with a cultured
left foot and a keen eye for goal, he made an immediate impact.
He played a vital part in the Ulster Cup and First Division Championship
wins of 1998/99. He went on to make 216 appearance and had scored
15 goals up to end of the 2003/4 season. He left the club during
2004/5 season..
4
JOHN KENNEDY
from Cromac Albion made his debut on 7-1-89 on the left-wing, however
by 91/92 he was the established sweeper on the team, putting in
consistent solid performances. He captained the team to the Gold
Cup win of 93/94. He made 217 appearances and scored 10 goals before
moving on to Glentoran.
5
DARREN BRUSH
was a Londoner who had a spell at Leyton Orient before joining Distillery
and making his debut on 12-8-95. He played consistently throughout
that season before joining Linfield. In his 40 appearances he scored
3 goals.
6
ALAN HALL
joined the Whites in December 1988 as an 18 year old after a spell
at Bangor and Wigan. He made his debut on 3-12-88 in midfield but
by his third game he had moved to left-back. He had several injury
spells in his career, one of which saw him miss the Gold Cup success
of 93/94. He made 301 appearances and scored 10 goals before moving
on to Newry in December 1997. Although he was perhaps best known
as a left-back, he did make 144 of these appearances in midfield.
7
BILLY TOTTEN
was an experienced winger who had played for Linfield, Crusaders,
Coleraine and Glentoran. He was signed at the end of the 91/92 season
and made his debut in 21-3-92. He was part of the 93/94 Gold Cup
team and also scored in the Budweiser Cup Final if 94/95. Probably
the last traditional right-winger at the club who cuold turn on
match-winning performances. He made 169 appearances over 5 seasons
and scored 27 goals. He moved on to play for the Welders in August
1996.
8
DARREN ARMOUR
was signed from amateur league team Bloomfield Y.M. and made an
immediate impact as a goalscorer in his first season 97/98. He made
his debut on 09-8-97 and scored 26 goals that season. In 98/99 his
goals were vital in helping win the Ulster Cup and First Division
Championship. He joined Glentoran in August 2001 where he scored
over 50 goals in three seasons before coming home in August 2004.
He has currently (05-11-05) made 211 appearances, scoring 119 goals.
9
BILLY HAMILTON
was a sensational signing by the club as player-manager in December
1989. Although near the end of his playing days he had had a phenomenal
career at Linfield, QPR, Burnley and Oxford and had become a local
hero through his performances for NI in the World Cup. He made his
playing debut for the Whites on 22-3-90 and in his three seasons
he made 72 appearances and scored 33 goals including one hat-trick.
Knee injuries forced him to end his playing career in February 1992,
but he continued to manage the team up until February 1995. He guided
the club to the Gold Cup victory in 93/94.
10
PHILIP MITCHELL
had played for Ards, Linfield, Ipswich and Portadown before joining
the Whites at the end of 91/92. He made his debut on 28-3-92 wearing
the no.11 shirt but this classy left-sided midfielder soon made
the no.10 position his own. He helped win the Gold Cup on 93/94
and soon established himself as the regular penalty taker. In his
5 seasons he made 171 appearances and scored 48 goals (including
18 penalties). He moved on to Glentoran in August 1996.
11
TOM CLELAND
returned to the club for a second spell when he was signed from
Glentoran, making his second debut on 22-3-92. Compared to his previous
spell in the 80's he emerged as a consistent goalscorer --- netting
67 goals in 172 appearances in the 90's. He helped win the Gold
Cup in 93/94, scoring a vital equalising goal in the Final. In his
10 season career he made 301 appearances scoring 81 goals (including
one priceless hat-trick). He moved on to Linfield in August 1996.
Reserves:---
Paul
Rice
was an experienced keeper from Cliftonville.
Peter
Crothers was a reliable right-back who made a record 100 consecutive
appearances.
Roy Allen --- a tall defender who played in the Gold Cup Final.
Tommy
McIlroy --- a hard-tackling 100% midfielder.
Philip
Dykes was a striker who
scored 75 goals in his 6-season career.
Jim
McCloskey --- a lankey left-winger who could be a match winner
on his day.
Ian
Adams was another quality striker who scored 38 goals at the
start of the decade.
Winkie Armstrong was a charismatic bustling striker who was undoubtedly
the 'character of the decade'.
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