Benburb Football Club in Govan renames stand in honour of former player and manager

Benburb Football Club, which plays in the junior football league, unveiled the Frank Lovering stand to fans earlier this month.

The 67-year-old came in as a player/assistant when he was a teenager at 19 around 1995, and after leaving for a short spell, came back before the noughties to take over as manager - a position he held for 13 seasons. 

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His son Paul, who is an ex-professional footballer and now first team manager of Benburb FC, told the Glasgow Times: “My dad kind of ran the club just before the noughties and took over.

“At that point, the club was minutes away from closure and my dad stepped in with his own funds and over the years built the club back up to where it was.”

Before Frank took over, Paul said: “People in the team didn’t have a ground. They were jumping from place to place, using Maryhill, Neilston, calling in favours to actually play games because they didn’t have a home.

“I think at that point a lot of people were assuming that the team would be finished and that was it, but my dad fought to keep the club alive. Then he had the opportunity to sell the ground and create a new one and that’s what he did.

“He fought and put in his own finances to keep the club alive and now we have an academy that goes from mini kickers all the way up to the first team.

“So, I thought this was a great opportunity for a bit of recognition to him for how much work, effort and commitment that my dad’s put in over the years. I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Though his son became Benburb’s manager in 2015, Frank's involvement in the club did not end. 

Frank now holds the position of club president, overseeing the running of Benburb FC alongside his wife, May. 

Not only are Frank and his wife heavily involved in the club, but his three children – also including Geanine and Richard - are too and additionally, his grandchildren work within the club, serving food and refreshments, with some even playing for the club. 

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It was, however, Paul who decided to surprise his dad with this honour of recognition on Saturday, July 2.

George Wall, a long-time friend of Frank’s, said: “They (Benburb FC) sold the ground they were in to a property developer and Frank could have walked away with the money in his pocket, but he didn’t.

“He built them a new park by the Asda in Govan. Since then, they’ve really taken off. 

“Frank’s been there for a long time, and he’s one of these good guys that everyone in junior football recognises."

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When speaking to both Paul and George, George recalled Frank’s reaction to his surprise.

He said: “Frank turned up to the ground with his wife, and his wife said 'do you see anything different’, and he went ‘oh no, get that down’.

“He doesn’t want recognition, he just does it.

“But he deserves the recognition.” 

Following the surprise, Paul said: “I think it was a bit of a shock. I think he was a bit embarrassed and set-back but it’s a recognition to my dad and that was important for me and the club and the family.”