New Site

The new Institute site can be found at www.stutefc.co.uk

Stute’s Christmas Rickety Wheel

Will be held on Friday 19th December in the in the “stute room” upstairs of the Travellers Inn (old Three Mile House). And will start around 8. 30pm.

Come and show your support for the team.

Gig this Saturday night

This Saturday night, the Stute Room, formerly upstairs in the Three Mile House, Drumahoe, will see the launching of what hopefully is an exciting career for former Kharma 45 singer Glenn Rosborough and his band.

His band mates are Phil Curran, also from Kharma 45, Lee Thomas on guitar and former Northern Lights bassist Graham Bradley.

After taking the past few months writing his solo material, the band chose the recently opened venue for their debut gig.

There has been a lot of excitement rippling through the music community about the new band backing the singer on his solo project and the indie pop tunes which will keep gig goers dancing all night.

The night kicks off at 10 o’clock at the Stute Room. There will be a £3 entry fee, which can be paid at the door on the night.

Any other enquiries about the gig, just visit myspace.com/glennrosborough.

Semple back and Campbell away

Ryan Semple has recovered from a rib injury, he came back to training on Tuesday night and should be fit to play on Saturday against Coleraine at The Showgrounds.

Meanwhile Stephen Campbell has been loaned out to Championship side Dergview until January 2009.

Change of dates for Cliftonville fixtures

Stute’s next two fixtures against Cliftonville have both been brought forward to Friday nights.  The away game scheduled for 6th December will now be played on Friday 5th December at Solitude with a 7.45pm kick-off and the Riverside match on 21st February will now take place on Friday 20th February - again with a 7.45pm start.

OG makes NI U-23 squad again

Congratulations to Stute central defender David Ogiliby who has once again been chosen by manager David Jeffrey for Northern Ireland’s final Under-23 International Challenge Trophy group match away to Slovakia.

The team has already lost 3-1 to Belgium and 1-0 against the Republic of Ireland in the tournament and the last fixture will take place in Senec on 18th November.

The full squad is: Chris Keenan (Larne), Dwayne Nelson (Dungannon), McClean (Ballymena), Lindsay (Linfield), Watson (Ballymena), Coates (Crusaders), B Holland (Cliftonville), Ogilby (Institute), Scullion (Glentoran), Ward (Glentoran), Clarke (Newry), Fordyce (Glentoran), Mulgrew (Linfield), Donnelly (Crusaders), Garrett (Newry), Carvill (Linfield), McAllister (Dungannon), Waterworth (Glentoran).

All the best to OG and the team from everyone at Institute.

Glentoran Vs Institute: Match Preview

INSTITUTE travel to title contenders Glentoran, this Saturday (KO 3pm), looking to secure their third straight league win in a row.

The last time the Drumahoe men achieved three consecutive victories in the Premier Division was back in February 2004, when they defeated Omagh Town, Armagh City and Dungannon Swifts - So Gregg knows it’s going to be tough if his side are to match that feat when they visit the Oval at weekend. “On Monday night they defeated St Patrick’s Athletic to reach the semi-final of the Setanta Sports Cup, so that proves they are in a good vein of form,” he said.

“We know it’s going to be a big ask to get a positive result at the Oval, but we go there full of confidence ourselves and I want my players to give it their all. I’ll be telling the squad at training this week that they need to continue what they have been doing in the last three games - that’s everyone working for each other and grinding out results if they want to get anything at Glentoran.”

The Waterside club will be without skipper Ruairi Boyle through suspension, but Gregg feels his squad is big enough to cope with such a loss. “Obviously I’m disappointed in the matter of Ruairi suspension because it was foolish, but we have to get on with it. Sean Roddy has done well for us this season and he certainly comes into my thinking. While sooner rather than later Mark Scoltock will be looking to get back in as he’s started training again.

“I keep telling the players that there is no use any of them sulking that they aren’t in the team, I want them to prove to me that they are up for a fight and proving to me at training that they should be not just in the squad but the starting line-up.”

Institute 2-0 Dungannon Swifts

Institute recorded their second victory on the bounce on Saturday, against a managerless Dungannon Swifts at a rain-sodden and blustery Drumahoe, with two second half goals from Lowry and O’Loughlin.

The first half was a bit of a non-starter with both teams finding it hard in the conditions. Swifts striker Jamie Tomelty created a few half chances for Dunganon with the same happening at the other end for Institute, but both goalkeepers weren’t really tested. The half-time whistle was welcomed by all.

The second half was a different story with Institute coming out of the blocks the quickest. After 49 minutes, James Quigley and Ryan McCreadie combined to release Philip Lowry through on goal, who calmly took it round goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson, to score from a narrow angle making it 1-0 to Institute.

Institute captain Ruairi Boyle was sent-off for reacting stupidly to a tackle between JP Gallagher and himself.  He deservedly received a straight red for lifting his hands to another player.

However that did not stop Institute pushing on to score the decisive goal. With Dungannon failing to capitalize on their numerical player advantage, John O’Loughlin looked to be taking the ball into the corner to run the clock down, however he soon found himself through on goal with a superb piece of skill that left two opponents heading for the changing rooms. With only the goalkeeper to beat, he somehow managed to squeeze the ball past him at the near post. A great finish to a great run.

Two wins in a row for Institute - that leaves them healthily in mid-table.

BRING ON THE GLENS!!

Glenavon 0 - 1 Institute

Institute recorded their first away win of the season against Glenavon at Mourneview Park on Tuesday night.

After a scrappy first half at Mourneview, which saw Tony Grant go closest to opening the scoring for Glenavon with a controlled volley only for the ball to smash against the cross bar from 10 yards out. Institute’s best effort of the half was a 25 yard free kick from full back Sean Roddy that flashed a yard wide of the post.

Stute who impressed throughout the 90 minutes never really looked in any trouble as Glenavon rarely threatened the goal, with their best chance coming from Paul Carvill, who’s effort flashed over the bar.

However, Neil Harkin’s decisive 61st minute finish was the difference between the two sides. Sean Roddy released Harkin for the goal and he finished well with a low shot across the goal and into the corner of the net.

Institute had other clear cut chances with Robinson saving bravely from a Phillip Lowry effort and a goal-line clearance after Paul Brown looped his header of Robinson in the Glenavon goal, only for it to be cleared off the line. A fantastic win for Institute, and a clean sheet to boot (their first away from home since February). A win surely to please the fans with a big game coming up on Saturday against a struggling Dungannon Swifts side who were beaten at home by Bangor last night.

Up the Stute!!

Stute to play Loughgall in the Co-operative Insurance Cup

Institute have been drawn against Championship side Loughgall in the third round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.  The tie will be played over two legs with Stute travelling to Lakeview Park on Tuesday 28th October and entertaining the Villagers at the Riverside on Wednesday 12th November.  John Gregg and his side will be looking to progress to the quarter final stage but it will not be easy against a useful Loughgall outfit.