IT'S perhaps understandable that the history of St John's GAC, Belfast took more than a decade to produce - there are so many achievements to cram in.
It helps that the authors - Maria Gough and her brother-in-law John Gough - were afforded more than 600 pages to relate the tales and titles of the Corrigan Park club. To be precise, 656 pages - A3 size to boot.
'Come and See the Johnnies Play' will be officially launched this evening, from 7pm, in Naomh Eoin CLG, Corrigan Park, the refurbished home of Gaelic games in the county once more, where more memories will be made and shared.
Still five clear at the top of the Antrim SFC roll of honour, with 24 triumphs, allied to seven senior hurling crowns, St John's also boast the county's first All-Star, Andy McCallin, still the only Saffron honoured for football.
The huge tome outlines the historical journey of St John's GAC, a journey which begins with the formation of the club in 1929 and brings the reader through nine decades of playing Gaelic games, culminating in 2019 when the club celebrated 90 years in existence.
The inspiration was the then parish priest, Rev Fr Robert Fullerton, who opened the St John the Evangelist Church on the Falls Road. Joe Corscadden, Nicky Power, and Pat Hayes - the latter a former player with Dalcassian's and Moran's clubs - decided to organise what was originally known as 'St John's GAA District Amateur Boxing and Athletic Club'.
Drawing from the Beechmount and Springfield Road areas, the first 'clubrooms' were a hayloft on Broadway Terrace, off Brighton Street, with the jerseys borrowed from the O'Rahilly's club - apparently a set hand-knitted by Sam McClenaghan.
From such humble, hard-pressed beginnings, the 'Johnnies' grew into a fabulous, famous club.
St John's clubman John Gough - the famous former referee - took more than 10 years researching the history of his club, which was no easy task. Following a fire in the clubrooms in the early 70s, important documentation was lost, which included minute books and photographs.
John Gough, who spent more than a decade researching his club history.
Replacing such authentic material was impossible, so John took his research to The Irish News offices where he was able to trace back minutes of meetings and match reports to those early years.
The Lawell family were custodians of excellent material too, with John Lawell handing on his prized possessions to son Hugh, who knew the value of keeping such information safe.
While John did the digging, Fermanagh native Maria crafted the stories, producing a fascinating, highly readable account of those who have made St John's over the years.
From first chairman Tom McClarnon and Fr Fullerton, through a host of Gallaghers - starting with Joe 'Hack' - the names echo down the decades: Best, McCallin, Gough, Burns, McCann, Begley, Bro. Crummey, Lawell, Gilroy, O'Hare, Crawford, Cunningham, Donnelly, Hall, McNulty, Kelly, Grieve, Feeney, Hamill, Darragh, McCrory, McIlroy, McFall, McCrory, Nugent, Adams, Bradley, Johnston and many, many, many more great men, women, and children in the blue and white.
The book celebrates the club's achievements on the field of play in chronological order, helping the players relive their matches which may or may not have culminated in an All-County championship win.
The glory days of the Sixties are relived through match reports with an unbelievable seven-in-a-row senior football championships won from 1959 to 1965. The five Gallagher brothers were heroes in this era and stories of their exploits on the pitch bring plenty of humour too.
'Doing the double' in Gaelic games meant winning both senior football and hurling championships in the same year and St. John's did just that four times, in 1951, 1961, 1962 and 1969.
The players of this era are still club heroes today for such heights have never been reached again in our club history. They are remembered through their exploits on the pitch and through many of their personal stories.
The famous 'Top 4 Tournaments' are to the fore in the history of the club as they were the foundations for what became the Ulster and All Ireland Club Championships; that journey and the men responsible are celebrated through the timeline.
The 1970s are referred to as the 'Magnificent Seventies' as once again from 1969 to 1981 the All-County Senior Football Championship was won on no fewer than eight occasions with four of those back-to-back wins - 1975 though to 1978.
1978 was another historic year when the team won the Ulster Seenior Club Football Championship and went on to compete in the All-Ireland Club Final. Unfortunately it was a 'David v Goliath' encounter, taking on a Thomond College side packed with players from several counties, and on this occasion the underdog was defeated.
The revival of camogie and the introduction of ladies football over the years has made St John's have a 'four code, one club' ethos to be proud of today. Each have their own place in the history of the club with their successes celebrated through the pages of this book.
The younger generation of players have their place in the history too. Even though the 90s and Noughties were lean years in terms of winning senior championships, young Naomh Eoin teams were excelling at all underage levels.
Provincial and All-Ireland titles were also won with All-Ireland Féile hurling champions Commedagh lifting the title in 1971 and 1974 with its plethora of what became Johnnies players.
The added extras which make the club that little bit extraordinary include the story of 'the Development of a Gaelic Culture', The Golden Eagles, The African Connection, and Strictly Naomh Eoin, to name only a few.
Maria Gough, who wrote 'Come and See the Johnnies Play', the history of Naomh Eoin/ St John's GAC, Belfast.
Scattered throughout the exploits on the field are the stories of many volunteers who did remarkable things to make St John's the great club it is today. People like Andy McCallin (Sen), Tommy Best, Patsy Donnelly, Patsy Crawford, Tommy Hall, and Jim Gough are highlighted for their dedication to their club while club referees through the years are listed, showing the importance of this role in ensuring the games can be played safely.
This brilliant book lists all those club members who have represented Antrim, or won wider honours and acclaim. No doubt an update will be required in the near future, but for now this is a fabulous record of a fantastic club.
