Northern Ireland

Belfast Celtic on defensive after fans of original club cry foul

 An exhibition at Stormont about former Belfast Celtic player and Barcelona manager Patrick O'Connell. File picture by Mal McCann
 An exhibition at Stormont about former Belfast Celtic player and Barcelona manager Patrick O'Connell. File picture by Mal McCann  An exhibition at Stormont about former Belfast Celtic player and Barcelona manager Patrick O'Connell. File picture by Mal McCann

A WEST Belfast football club has defended a decision to change its name to Belfast Celtic after fans of the original club with that title condemned the move.

Sport & Leisure Swifts FC announced they were changing their name earlier this month but a group dedicated to the memory of the original Belfast Celtic FC, which was based on the Donegall Road until the club disbanded in 1949, have expressed “disappointment”.

The Belfast Celtic Society said it wants to “preserve the history” of the original club and a spokesperson said Sport & Leisure Swifts have “no direct or formal links” with what fans affectionately call the “Grand Old Team”.

The society said local reaction to the name change was “overwhelmingly negative” and the spokesperson added: “It is our concern that this move could potentially damage future football development prospects in west Belfast.”

 Belfast Celtic legend Jimmy Jones in 2006. File picture by Hugh Russell
 Belfast Celtic legend Jimmy Jones in 2006. File picture by Hugh Russell  Belfast Celtic legend Jimmy Jones in 2006. File picture by Hugh Russell

Last night Sport & Leisure Swifts FC hit back and said the decision was taken due to the club being the only team from west Belfast currently playing in the NI Premier Intermediate League.

“We see it as a chance to encourage the growth of Senior Football in the west of the city and to develop talent and encourage a better view of our area from people who reside outside of west Belfast,” a spokesperson said.

“Ultimately it is our view that if we progress this initiative to its fullest potential then we will attract more investment to the west of the city which can only be a positive thing for local footballers.”