The Ants are delighted to announce the signing of Ronnie Nicholson from Glenvale. Ronnie has made it known he is delighted to link up with former manager John Kelly at the Ants and has his sights set on promotion. “John sold me on the move to the Ants to make the step up to junior and test myself at a higher level and to hopefully push for promotion.”  His manager was in no doubt Ronnie can cope with the step up “Ronnie is a player who I have coached for past 2 year and he has never let me down if given a job to do on the pitch. He will always give the team 100% and I made it a point of bringing him to the club”

Richie Bain became the latest Ants signing after penning a deal for the next year at McKenna Park. Bain was a popular member of Stanley Athletic last season and the club are delighted to have the box to box midfielder on board at McKenna Park. Ants manager John Kelly said “Richie is a energetic midfielder who will run all day for the team, he is very much a box to box midfielder and given the right coaching he will no doubt shine in the famous Ants jersey.”

The Ants have snapped up prolific striker Peter McKnight from Gryffe Thistle. Peter was in demand from other junior clubs due to his prowess infront of goal and the Gaffer has no doubt that the striker will be a smash hit down McKenna Park way. “Peter has been a target from the day I agreed to take over at the club. I have coached teams playing against peter and I know what he brings to the table, and that is simply goals.  We needed someone with that predatory instinct in the 18 yard box and Peter will no doubt score a barrell-load of goals at the Ants, especially with the players he has playing behind him. I am delighted he has signed at the Ants as he had some very good offers from other junior clubs”.

The club have signed highly rated 22 year old goalkeeper Owen McCallum from Glenvale. Owen has also played for Campsie Black Watch 19s, Glennifer Thistle 21’s and Campsie Minerva and is looking forward to making the step up to junior “I have signed with the Ants to make the step up to the Juniors. I am looking to improve my game and also test myself at a higher level”. The gaffer is in no doubt of Owen’s ability “Owen is the best keeper I have ever worked with. He is an outstanding young keeper and I am over the moon he has signed with the Ants. His distribution, shot stopping and communication is superb and there is no reason why he can’t go all the way in the game”

Kris Littler became the latest addition to the Ants playing squad having penned a deal that see’s him move over from Glenvale with gaffer John Kelly. Kris is an experienced junior defender having played for Maryhill, Glasgow Perthshire, Largs, Greenock and Johnstone Burgh in the past and he is looking forward to stepping back up into the junior ranks “I am looking forward to stepping back up to the juniors to test myself against better players in a better league”. The gaffer was also delighted to snap the defender up “Kris is a powerful commanding defender who can fill any position in the back line of defence. His junior experience will also be vital to us”

The Ants continue their rebuilding process with the signing of striker John Ball from Glenvale. John has enjoyed spells with Maryhill, Port Glasgow and Lanark in the junior ranks and his pace can cause teams real problems. Ants manager John Kelly said “John was a player I sounded out early on as we had to add a bit of pace in the final 3rd and I have no doubt John will give opposition defenders nightmares”.

The Ants have concluded the signing of Greg Marshall from Glenvale. Greg is a defender and he is no stranger to McKenna Park, He told the Ants website “I have watched previous Ants teams growing up and know it’s a big club with a great reputation in the junior leagues. There are really good facilities here and John is putting together an ambitious team with hope of progressing from last season and mounting a title challenge”. John himself rates the defender highly “Greg was my Player of the Year last year at Glenvale, He is very much a cool, calm and collected type of defender who likes to bring the ball out of defence to start attacks and I am delighted we were able to get Greg signed up.”

Following his return at the turn of the year from Johnstone Burgh, Popular Ants striker Grant Kelly has put pen to paper for this season. Grant will be looking to cement a place in JK’s side as a regular starter.  Grant has shown he has an eye for goal and Boss John Kelly is delighted to have the striker back on board  “I am delighted to have re-signed Granty for this season, From what I have seen of Grant he is technically very good, has an eye for goal, and links the play up very well between the midfield and front line”

The squad continues to see wholesale changes from last season with the arrival of Darren Taylor from Glenvale. Having worked with Ants manager John Kelly before the manager knows exactly what he is getting from the midfielder who’s versatility can see him fit in a number of positions in the squad “Darren was with me last season I used him in nearly every position and there wasn’t really one he looked out of place in any of them. He is very good at carrying the ball from deep into the final 3rd and his energy and fitness let him get around the park no problem at all so I am looking for him to be a big player for us this season”.