It promises to be quite a night on Saturday June 10th when the famous Detroit Cougars make a return to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the never to be forgotten tour across North America in 1967.
Organised by the Glentoran Supporters Committee (1923), a very special evening is being planned with a dinner at the Park Avenue Hotel to mark 50 years since Glentoran, under the guise of the Detroit Cougars, played the great and good of English, Scottish, European and South American football in the inaugural Soccer League in America.
On the night a four course dinner will be served and enjoyed before the final part of the evening when the formal speeches will take place.
We are delighted to announce that our very special after dinner guest speaker will be none other than former Glentoran forward Terry Conroy, who will make a first trip back to East Belfast since he left the Oval in 1966 to embark on a wonderful career in England with Stoke City, with whom he won the League Cup in 1972. Terry was also capped many times by Ireland and will have many stories to tell from his illustrious career. It is often forgotten but Terry actually played against the Detroit Cougars on that tour when he was in the Stoke side that represented the city of Cleveland.
Speaking to the glentoran.com last week Terry had this to say: “I am delighted and honoured to be invited to speak at this wonderful occasion and it is to my shame that in those 50, yes 50, years since I left Glentoran that I have not been back since. At long last I can now put that right and I look forward to renewing some old acquaintances with my former team mates and also the fans, if some of them remember me! It was a wonderful time to be a footballer, imagine spending two whole months travelling across America and Canada and playing football too. It could never happen now, so this is quite a reason to celebrate and I am so delighted that I can play a part on the night.”
Rounding off the night we have something very special planned, when John Colrain Jnr will bring the evening to a close with a selection of songs from the greats such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. John also is delighted to be able to take part in the event. “I really am delighted to be asked to sing a few numbers that will be in keeping with the theme of the night. As you know, my Dad loved the guys like Sinatra and on that tour he actually got to meet his idol. That left a big impression on my Dad, as did Glentoran and of course the Cougars. I am really honoured to be invited and hopefully my brothers and sisters will join me for the night, just as they did for the launch of Philip’s book on my Dad. What those guys did during that tour was fantastic and it is wonderful that even after all this time they are not forgotten about. It really promises to be a great night.”
Other parts of the night will be announced in due course for what promises to be a night to remember.
Tickets for the night will soon be available, priced at £40, which will include a four course meal and of course the post meal event.
If you, individually or as a club, wish to book tables simply contact any member of the 1923 and give them your contact details or email 1923secretary@gmail.com.
