Football rivalries set aside to remember Lydia

COLERAINE and Ballymena United renewed rivalries at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday night.
And the large crowd was joined just before kick-off by some weary travellers - who had walked all the way to the game from the Ballymena Showgrounds!
Around 15 United supporters - joined by opposition supporters, friends and family - completed the mammoth challenge to help raise funds for Air Ambulance NI.
It was just the latest in a series of events helping to keep alive the memory of Ballymena United fan Lydia Ross who sadly passed away in 2023.
“There are not enough words to describe how I’m feeling - the most emotional and humbling thing we’ve done yet,” Lydia’s dad Paul posted on social media.
“Thank-you to Coleraine for the amazing reception you gave us.
“On the day we collected £2,000 and the total now stands at over £14,000.
“It was a wonderful gesture. Some of the guys who would have sat with us in Block F came up with the idea.
“It is a great undertaking and the response to date has been tremendous.
“I have a lot of good friends who are Coleraine fans and quite a few indicated that they would walk some of the way.
“It is times like this that shows what a proper football rivalry is like with true fans coming together,” added Paul.
Well done to all concerned!