Mallusk FC was set up to provide men aged 35 and over with assistance with challenges that come their way. Having played in a Sunday league pyramid against teams with a similar ethos from across Belfast , Lisburn and Lurgan since their formation, the over 35s team has secured back-to-back promotions over the past two seasons and will be playing in the top flight for the 2024/25 campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
As well as excelling on the pitch, the players have also been backing worthy causes, raising over £4,000 in the process. The over 35s player/manager, Ryan Duffy explained: “I helped form the team two years ago. I’d moved to the area and had played football and organised a cross-community league on the north coast and I wanted to get involved again.
"I started playing with Lisburn Distillery’s over 35s team, but felt there was a need to have a club closer to home and that’s where the idea came from. There wasn’t a Mallusk-based team anymore and we were having to turn people away at the start because there was that much interest. We started with an over 35s team and now also field an over 40s team with 50 players on the club’s books.
"Our main objective is to promote positive mental health and be there for anyone who needs a bit of support. We back the work of Lisburn-based Emerge Counselling Services and compete in the Eme.
