Preview: Glentoran (A)

    The Blues have arrived in Northern Ireland for a two-day training camp followed by a clash with NIFL Premiership side Glentoran.

    Calum McIntyre has stressed the importance of the trip, not only in terms of preparations on the pitch but for morale and togetherness off it, with a number of team bonding activities lined up.

    The contest on Saturday provides a major test for Chester FC, after our hosts finished third last term in the Northern Irish top flight.

    The Opposition

    As previously mentioned, the Glens had a positive campaign in 24/25 but failed to challenge runaway leaders Linfield, who finished a staggering 22 points above second-placed Larne and 24 above our opponents.

    The club, based in East Belfast, have finished inside the top five in the Northern Irish Premiership in all of the last six seasons, but have failed to crack the top two.

    Glentoran are a historic club and a trophy cabinet that most rivals would envy, with a record of 23 top flight titles, 23 Irish Cups, seven Irish League Cups and 27 County Antrim Shields.

    As well as this domestic success, the Glens have a long history of competing in European competition, with competitive ties against Arsenal, Juventus and PSG in years gone by.

    Their most recent outing in Europe was a defeat on penalties to Maltese side Gżira United in the 1st Qualifying Round for the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023.

    The Gaffer

    Experienced boss Declan Devine has been in the dugout on a permanent basis at the BetMcLean Oval since April 2024, after a previous stint as caretaker for the end of the 23/24 campaign.

    Devine featured for the Glens as a player in 1995/96 season, before spells at Derry City, Omagh Town and Institute during the remainder of his career as a goalkeeper.

    The 51-year-old’s first managerial role came at Derry, with a first stint between January 2012 and October 2013 and a second from November 2018 to April 2021.

    An 18-month stretch at Bohemians followed before he moved back to Belfast to take the top job at the Oval.

    A statement from CFU Vice-Chair Jim Green ahead of the trip.

    “The players and staff are excited to be heading across to Northern Ireland for what will be a demanding yet hugely rewarding few days.

    “There’s a real focus on work, with an intensive two-day training camp, before a game against a strong Glentoran side, with the schedule designed to provide the team with the exact kind of challenges needed at this stage of the build-up to the new campaign.

    “The facilities we will be using are first class and our hosts couldn’t have done more for us. The opportunity for players to spend four days together in close proximity will be really valuable. They’ll travel together, train together, eat together, and we’ve planned some teambuilding activities for them to get stuck into too.

    “Anyone who went over to the Isle of Man last year will know what a great weekend it was, but it was a bit of a whirlwind with games on the Friday evening and Sunday morning, whereas this trip more opportunities to embed the identity and structure for the season ahead.

    “We hope all of our fans who are travelling over for the game have a fantastic experience, and the players are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday afternoon, and will be around after the match to thank you for your support.”

    Match Details

    The match on Saturday will kick off at 14:00. The address for the BetMcLean Oval is – The Oval, Parkgate Drive, Belfast, BT4 1EW.

    The pre-season fixture forms part of the family-friendly Community Carnival at the BetMcLean Oval, with free admission to the match for all supporters.

    Hosted by the Glentoran Social Partnership and supported by Choice Housing through the Shared Housing Programme, this free family open day kicks off at 12:00, transforming The BetMcLean Oval into a lively festival of fun, music, food and activity all in the build-up to the match kicking-off at 14:00.

    The Community Carnival will feature a wide range of entertainment and activities designed for all ages.

    Families can enjoy live music, performances and family-friendly entertainment throughout the day, creating a fun, welcoming and inclusive experience for all, with bouncy castles and interactive games for children, on-site food vendors and refreshments.

    Ticket Details

    Tickets for the match are available for free here.

    We can’t wait to see you all there – Up the Seals!