CALUM BIRNEY LEAVES 4bi3i
Calum Birney’s cameo appearance in the 4-0 victory against Carrick Rangers at Taylor’s Avenue on the final Saturday of the season was his Glenavon swansong. The popular central defender has now left the club. 3x44o
“It is unfortunate that I wasn’t able to play as often during my final season as I would have liked,” he said. “But I leave with good memories. It was a very enjoyable part of my career.”
The 32 year old regards the 1-0 victory against Portadown at Shamrock Park on Boxing Day 2021 and the 1-1 draw with Coleraine at Mourneview Park in December 2023 as highlights. The festive win was significant because it was achieved despite the loss of two players, including goalscorer Peter Campbell, to red cards during the first half and, of course, Calum scored a dramatic late equaliser in the clash with the Bannsiders.
Calum celebrates after scoring a late equaliser in a home Premiership fixture against Coleraine in December 2023.
“The victory at Portadown, with nine against eleven for over half of the match, was outstanding,” he reflected. “Defenders love to keep clean sheets. To do so in those circumstances was very satisfying. Getting on the end of a cross deep in injury time against Coleraine and the ball ending up in the net was also a really good feeling.”
The son of Nigel Birney, part of a successful Glenavon squad in the mid-nineties, Calum moved to Mourneview Park from the Oval in January 2020. He had started his career as a teenager with Linfield in 2006 before ing Glentoran in 2009. He did not play a senior match at Windsor Park. However, he played 200 times and scored 13 goals for the East Belfast men. He was a member of their 2015 Irish Cup winning team.
Calum Birney pictured after the 1-1 draw with Coleraine.
Unfortunately, he has had injury problems. In November he played his penultimate match for Glenavon in the club’s first Premiership fixture after the appointment of Paddy McLaughlin, a 1-0 defeat against Portadown at Shamrock Park.
Calum is immensely grateful to all those who helped him during his Mourneview Park career, including the managers he played under, late chairman, Adrian Teer, the directors and the ers. “Glenavon is a great club, and it is in great hands,” he said. “Paddy has done a fabulous job in his first six months and will, I am sure, do even better next season. I am looking forward to returning as a spectator and cheering on the team. Thank you everyone.”
During his Glenavon career, Calum made 92 appearances, scored five goals and provided three assists.
