"In the Beginning"

Lisnafillan Swifts F.C. was founded by Adrian Young and Paul McManus at the end of 2002 and although having had regular trials from that time the club held their first proper pre-season training in June of 2003.

"If you build it, they will come."

The team had an initial base of Gallaher Ltd employees but as word spread so too did the player base. They came from Ballymoney, Ballyclare, Belfast and even Cullybackey for a game of football.

Players found (and there were plenty... almost 50 at the start!), the team now needed an identity. Having secured the use of the Gallaher Ltd factory pitch it seemed fitting the team should represent the factory site, so Lisnafillan it was. Little were we to know that naming the club after the many swifts who had made the pitch their home were we to inadvertently breathe new life into an old name. It became apparent that the Lisnafillan Swifts had competed before and were a very successful team throughout the 1960's and 70's winning many trohies (picture below of the 1960 team courtesy of Syd McKinney).

Back row l-r: Davie Swann, Alan Shaw, Ken Hood, Jimmy Young, Bobby McCaig, Jimmy Morrow, Robert Campbell, Jim McFarland, Jimmy Millar, Stewarty Dickson (referee). Front row l-r: Norman Ashcroft, Syd McKinney, Maurice Grant, Robert Mark, Don Smallman.

Our badge was designed by Paul McManus and is made up of three main components: our logo - the swift; a laurel wreath, historically reserved for "champions"; and finally our club motto -VENI, VIDI, VICI.

The club was founded under the philosophy that football should be fun. It is no coincidence that the first rule of the club is "No slabbering!". We pride ourselves in having a squad of friends.

The club became a member of the Ballymena Saturday Morning League at the start of the 2003/04 season after fulfilling all the criterea set by the league committee and has been steadily progressing on and off the pitch since then.