Even if you're a dedicated follower of Linfield, Glentoran, Cliftonville or Crusaders - or one of the many other teams of the Irish League's several divisions - you probably hold a place in your heart for Distillery, as you should.

I am a Shore Road man, raised in the streets - Drives, Parks and Crescents, since we clearly had ideas above our station - directly opposite Seaview. And as a Shore Road man I grew up worshipping the Crues… but I have always 'followed' the fortunes, and many misfortunes, of the Whites.

They have contributed much more than any other club to the colourful and dramatic history of the game in Ireland.

And their history has, for the first time, been magnificently recorded and published by lifelong supporter Dawson Simpson in The Whites: A History of Distillery Football Club.

Dawson, a librarian himself, has spent a lifetime collecting data about his beloved Whites - 10 years of work have gone into this book - and he need have no fear when he writes: "I won't be surprised if I have accidently left something important out."

While the club, the oldest professional one in Ireland, has over the years, particularly those following the tragic loss of the homely and famous Grosvenor Park in Belfast in the 1970s, lost much of its written history, Dawson has managed to pull together a book packed with rich and intriguing detail and historic photographs.

The club, founded around the Belfast whiskey company of Dunville and Co on what was then, in 1879, Grosvenor Street, began life as a cricket club - the first match was against Clarence CC and Distillery won by 46 runs to 38.

But, to keep the cricketers fit during the winter, a football side was introduced in 1880, with the first game being played against Dundela on December 11, winning 1-0.

The Whites were off and running, eventually chalking up a formidable record which includes six Irish League title wins, 12 Irish Cup wins, 14 County Antrim Shield wins and 38 other trophy successes.

There have been some memorable scorelines too: 18-0 against United Steamship in the Irish Cup in 1887. Though they have been tanked 11-3 by Linfield (in 1929) and, sorry lads, 8-0 by Crusaders (in l972).

Before settling at the New Grosvenor Stadium on Lambeg's Ballyskeagh Road, and adding Lisburn to the famous Distillery name, the club played at some seven grounds.

Dawson's detailed research has unearthed a wealth of fascinating 'firsts' associated with the Whites: like the first international goal scored by Ireland was by Distillery player, Sam Johnston, against Wales in 1882; like the first team to win the Irish Cup three times in a row (1883-84, 85, 86); the first club to erect a wooden stand; the first Irish club to install floodlights (December 30, 1952); the first competitive match to be played under floodlights in the British Isles (March 25, 1953); the first floodlit League game in the British Isles (December 24, 1953, against Coleraine); the first season tickets in Ireland (1901-02).

It's not surprising, given the club's long history, that a host of Irish internationals have come from Distillery - Billy Crone won 12 between 1882-1890 and Olphie Stanfield won 30 between 1887-97 - and a steady stream of famous players have graced the cross-Channel game, including Derek Dougan, who played for my own beloved Blackburn Rovers in an infamous 1960s FA Cup Final (we don't like talking about Mr Dougan and Blackburn Rovers!)

When Distillery were driven out of Grosvenor Park, I became the secretary of the Enterprises Committee drawn from the supporters and we worked our butts off gaining the-then destitute club much-needed Government compensation.

And I still recall one other 'first'… Distillery was the first, and still the only, club to have its own stand at the Ideal Home Exhibition, in 1978.

And when I was Sports Editor of the old Sunday News I organised a competition to design a new club badge. I got over 300 entries from school pupils.

The winning design depicted a Phoenix rising from the ashes… it summed up the remarkable stickability of this wonderful, friendly club. And it doesn't hurt one bit for a Hatchet Man to say so.

If you cherish sportsmanship and the unfaltering loyalty of fans who have never wavered in the face of impossible odds then you really do need to be seen clutching Dawson Simpson's loving history of Distillery.

lThe Whites: A History of Distillery Football Club (224 pages, £13, copies from the Club Shop or by contacting Dawson Simpson on: dawsonsimpson44@yahoo.co.uk)

 

Article - courtesy of Sunday Life