​‘I want to take Newry City back into the Premiership’ says manager Stuart King

Newry City will be hoping that they are still riding the high of the last campaign, where they earned promotion back up to the second tier with a nail-biting win over Dollingstown on the last day.

It’s a revamped structure, with 16 teams taking part in the Boyle Sports Championship for the 2026-27 season, and whilst every single team will have their goals and aspirations, City boss Stuart King isn’t hiding the ambitions that he has for the club.​

“You have to have ambitions. I want to take Newry back into the Premiership,” he said.

“I'm not saying that we're going to do it this year, but my aim is to get there at some stage. I think if you go into a season not wanting to win every game, then there is something wrong.

“Yes, you have got to be realistic and we know that there is a lot of quality in this league, but every game is an opportunity to win three points.

“It doesn't matter who you are, or what you are, you have to go out and give everything, and try to win as many points as possible.”

If Newry are going to do that, a fast start will be imperative. They have two tough tests to start the campaign, as they travel away to Ballinamallard United in the opener on Saturday, before hosting last year’s relegated Premiership side Glenavon.

Following that, it’s back-to-back local derbies against Rathfriland and Warrenpoint Town – the latter taking place under Friday night lights at The Showgrounds.

“Definitely,” King agreed, when asked about whether a fast start will be important for his side. “Thankfully we did that last year.

“Friday night games are massive for us because we get the crowd onside. There are a lot of good people behind the scenes at Newry who have helped me out loads, and I want the lads to get off to a fast start for them.

“I expect us to be really competitive. We know that it's not going to be easy and that there are a lot of good teams, and a lot more experienced teams at this level.

“But we just need to make sure that we start off well and get as many good results as we can, quickly.”

Newry will want to keep the momentum going after a positive pre season campaign, which included a 1-0 win over Premiership side Bangor.

However, King has been around long enough to know that pre season results rarely translate whenever the important action gets underway.

“We had a decent enough pre season and a few good results, so it was mostly positive,” he said.

“We just have to see how we go now. Pre season to me, is always just about getting minutes into legs, and trying to get boys up to speed.

“It's not really about results. I have been involved in teams where we have won every pre season game, but then lost our first three or four games. And I have also lost all the pre season games and then won the first three or four games, so it doesn't really mean that much.

“But now I just want to get it started and to get going. I think we have recruited very well and we're much improved on where we were last year.”

Speaking of their recruitment, it has been an exciting summer for Newry City with several fresh faces coming in to add to their squad.

Arguably the marquee signing was local lad Caolan Marron, who will bolster the defence. Marron has plenty of top flight experience with Glentoran and Dungannon Swifts.

At the other end of the field, former Warrenpoint Town striker Ryan Swan will look to lead the line, whilst Lorcan Forde – who represented Newry City between 2022 and 2025 – returns to the club on the wing.

Former Glenavon, Armagh City and Loughgall player Andrew Hoey will look to make his impact in the middle of the park, alongside another former City star, Pablo Andrade, who also joins from Loughgall.

“The majority of them are Premiership players. They have played at a higher level,” said King, discussing his new signings.“They'll bring experience, they'll bring quality, and they'll bring leadership into the changing room, which is needed.”

Furthermore, Newry City made the moves to secure the futures of their key players from last year’s campign.

“I'm a loyal person, and if guys have done well for me, then I want to look after them,” said the Newry manager.

“There was a nucleus of the squad last year, six or seven guys who played 95 per cent of our games. So, I wanted all those players to stay, and thankfully they all have.

“They deserve a crack at the Championship, and they see what we're building and the progress which is being made at the football club. They are a massive part of it.”