THE SHOWGROUNDS BALLYMONEY | ANOTHER FORGOTTEN GROUND | WALKAROUND VLOG

Following a recommendation on Twitter I called into the Ballymoney showgrounds, former home of Ballymoney United.
The ground is no longer in use as a football pitch and is a sad for sore eyes. The changing rooms and club house are locked up so there was no access when I was there.
Many established footballers across the world have played here during the milk cup, and many Irish league players cut their teeth here too.
*Some footage taken from NiMilkCup KZbin page.

[@simongreer6179]

So the showgrounds used to be a football pitch, damn I always thought it was a old army base with that blitz looking shed.

[@pjdanger19]

Class lad how many fans can it hold im heard it was upgraded little let me your videos are amazing

[@ThePeakys]

It’s disused now. Would have been hundreds there at the milk cup.

[@pjdanger19]

@@ThePeakys oh ok then enjoy your milk 🥛

[@robie4569]

Love these type of video 📹

[@ThePeakys]

Just something a wee bit different. May do a tour of the pitches around the triangle with the wean some day when I’ve nothing else to do. Recreate goals or something 😂

[@onlyfourhomenations]

@@ThePeakys love the way your are showing all different kinds of ground's

[@bloodboughtbigphilr8266]

Shame to see a football ground go to rack and ruin. Has Omagh Town's St. Julian's Road been demolished? That was lying derelict for a long time. At least Ballymoney United are a going concern still. Being such a strong GAA area and the epicentre of the succesful Tyrone county side, I suppose soccer at a senior level was always going to struggle to gain enough public support in Omagh.

[@ThePeakys]

@@bloodboughtbigphilr8266 it got taken apart a few years ago, another fella did a decent vlog on it years ago. It’s on KZbin. He mentioned that Tyrone winning the all ireland signalled the end.

[@bloodboughtbigphilr8266]

@@ThePeakys I believe it was the Ulster Groundhopper channel Niall. I saw that video a good few years back and your feature on the abandoned ground of Institute at Drumahoe and this one made me think of St Julian's Road. Bannsider myself but been living and working in England a long time. Your vlog's been keeping me up to speed with Coleraine's fortunes along with watching Irish League games on the BBC Iplayer.

[@adamtorrens6414]

It’s only really used for the show and young farmers football now

[@ThePeakys]

I think the local school were taking over the ground? Has that not happened?

[@fatfucker235]

If you're ever up in Belfast we have a cracker wee pitch and clubhouse at Dunmurry rec, Ashley Park

[@ThePeakys]

Who knows where I’ll find myself in the future. I’ve a few ideas of going round different league grounds in NI. All comes down to interest and finances.

[@fatfucker235]

@@ThePeakys aye we're currently in league 2b, having a rough season but trying to get back to ourselves, I think you should start an amateur series I think a lot of people would enjoy it and it would be a way for your channel to grow with meeting loads of people round the country

[@ThePeakys]

@@fatfucker235 Saturdays are coleraine games. Coleraine fan first, vlogger 2nd. 💪

[@Ryan-xz4te]

@peaky bansider that ground was originally used by American troops during ww2👌👌

[@dazzlertwd7839]

Never got to visit this ground, why did it stop being used?

[@ThePeakys]

The facilities were not of the standard for the level of football that Ballymoney wanted to play at. It’s getting taken over by Dalriada school shortly so it will see life again.

[@paulkirkpatrick6371]

Soul destroying and heart breaking when you see these grounds gone 2 the wall then the vandalism starts 2 kick in for a bit of fun for the locals who dont give a.shit from lisburn distillery supporter by.the.why 5.goals.scored last night in your win you needed it

[@waynepollock1842]

Peaky can ye do a recent vlog of St Julians Road omagh

[@ThePeakys]

St Julian’s is gone. It’s now an open space/park.

[@ThePeakys]

I wonder how many more places are like that in N.I. The only other high profile place is casement which I’ve no interest really in going to.

[@bloodboughtbigphilr8266]

Distillery were never the same Paul having had to leave Grosvenor Park in Belfast. Now long gone and they were a strong and successful side back in the day and able to compete with the Big Two in the City.

[@williammontgomery1203]

Where's Oisin

[@ThePeakys]

Was at school

[@williammontgomery1203]

@@ThePeakys you going to the match on Saturday come to the JD Grandstand

[@ThePeakys]

@@williammontgomery1203 will be running late on Saturday, have a prior engagement.

[@jonathanmontgomery5221]

@@ThePeakys what is a prior engagement?

[@ThePeakys]

@@jonathanmontgomery5221 just means i have to be somewhere before the game that’s already arranged so I’ll be running late.