I know I’ve neglected this blog recently (blame uni work) but the season has come to end and with it, sadly so has an era. Glentoran FC announced on Tuesday that their captain, legend and all round good guy Paul Leeman was being released.
A mixture of anger, sadness and disgust swept through the Glentoran support. ‘Leeper’ is a Glenman through and through and has led the team with pride and passion, the guy bleeds red, green and and given his all and more for Glentoran Football Club. He’s also one of the nicest fellas you could meet, nothing is ever too much of problem.
Leeman is the fourth generation of his family to have played for Glentoran FC. He was signed up to play for the Colts by Paul Kirk and made his first team debut in April 1996. Fast forward 15 years and Leeper has amassed 597 appearances for the club he grew up supporting not to mention an impressive collection of League, Irish Cup, League Cup, County Antrim Shield and Gold Cup winners medals.
Paul Leeman lifts the Gibson Cup
Think of Glentoran and you think of Paul Leeman, many of us younger fans can’t remember a time when Leeper wasn’t in the team. The past 15 years have seen vast changes in the Irish league, some cracking games, memorable European adventures, fantastic Irish Cup final days, heart stopping title clinching games, Morgan Day, managers come and go, the club nearly collapsing, Leeper has been there for it all, a constant and steadying presence in times of unbelievable highs and some depressing lows so going into next season without him is going to be strange. It’s not only the end of era but the realisation that we’re growing up, for a lot of us Saturdays during our childhoods were spent watching Leeman marshall the defence at the Oval and grounds around Northern Ireland.
Sadly the club isn’t well off financially and we’re having to let go of a lot of players.
Plenty has been written about what a fine servant Paul Leeman was to Glentoran FC, this is just my own wee tribute to one of my heros. Glentoran FC won’t be the same without you Leeper but you’ve given us some fantastic memories, the Live Your Dream games at the Oval will always been one of my favourite memories and helping out at your Testimonial events was an honour. I won’t be alone in wishing him all the best for the future and hoping we still see him and his family around the Oval.
Number 5 and your captain, Paul Leeman! Pride of East Belfast
Irish League Spotlight 