Richard Adair

All round sportsman Ricky Adair spent two seasons in the Eighties as the number one goalkeeper at the Showgrounds.

Born in East Belfast, Ricky came to prominence as a teenage talent between the sticks having made his debut for Glentoran Seconds at the age of just 14 in the late 1970’s. He quickly caught the attention of both international selectors and the local press, following his call up to the Northern Ireland Schoolboys team.

By the 1979/1980 campaign, 16-year-old Adair had risen to the fringes of the Glentoran first team, and was attracting the attention of a suite of cross channel clubs including both Wolves and Chelsea. In March 1980, following an injury to first choice goalkeeper Denis Matthews, he made his senior debut against Crusaders in the Irish League – the first of three appearances that season as the Oval club finished third in the table.

Despite the renewed interest of high-flying Ipswich Town of a professional career in England, Ricky opted to remain in NI to complete his A-Level studies at Sullivan Upper, as he remained the number two to Alan Patterson at the Oval, with Matthews having departed to Ballymena United. It was during the 1980/1981 season that he also competed for Northern Ireland at the UEFA Youth International Championships.

Despite still in his teens, Adair became increasingly frustrated with manager Ronnie McFall about the lack of first team opportunities, despite Glentoran winning the Irish League unbeaten during the 1980/1981 season. In October 1981, he stepped back from football for the first time to focus on playing rugby for CIYMS – prompting the wrath of McFall who transferred listed the goalkeeper and unsuccessfully tried to offload him to Glenavon. Adair did answer the manager’s plea to return as an emergency in February 1982, which proved to be the last of his half dozen senior appearances for Glentoran.

Ards tried to coax Ricky back to the Irish League for the 1982/1983 season, but he reneged to continue his blossoming rugby career with CIYMS. It was Carrick Rangers boss Jimmy Brown who eventually persuaded the now 20-year-old back to football the following summer. Despite battling it out throughout the season for the number one jersey, Adair missed out on a place in the 1984 Irish Cup Final team as Coburn started against Ballymena United – and was carried off injured after 56 minutes in the 4-1 defeat. Ricky’s return to football continued to attract the attention of professional clubs, with an invitation to train with Bolton Wanderers accepted during the campaign.

Adair finally enjoyed his first season of being a number one goalkeeper during the 1984/1985 campaign at Taylors Avenue, as one of the few stand out performers in a poor season for Carrick Rangers, who finished bottom of the Irish League table, and forced to apply for re-election. Manager Jimmy Brown jumped ship to take up the vacant hot seat at the Ballymena Showgrounds, and swiftly brought Adair and three Carrick Rangers team mates (Mark Adams, John Gorman and Roy Fellows) with him.

Ricky made his United debut in a disappointing opening day home defeat to Newry Town, and it proved a difficult transition for all parties. United’s form proved erratic under the new manager and Adair found himself out of the team for two months over the New Year following a loss of form, but rallied in the second half of the 1985/186 season as the Sky Blues eventually finished in mid-table without challenging for any silverware, having lost the final of the County Antrim Shield to Distillery in October 1985.

Adair firmly established himself as the Showgrounds first choice during the 1986/1987 campaign under Brown, missing only two games, as he even forgone his own honeymoon, appearing for United 24 hours after getting married – only to concede seven goals against his former club Glentoran in the process! Ricky quickly returned to form and proved to be one of the shining lights in another mediocre mid-table campaign at Warden Street.

All was not rosy in the summer of 1987 at the Showgrounds, as Adair alongside midfielder Ronnie Burns sparked a contractual war with the club over contract negotiations, which eventually led to his unceremonious departure to join former boss Ronnie McFall at Portadown in August 1987 on a two year contract. Adair left the Showgrounds having made 69 appearances and keeping 17 clean sheets during two seasons.

Much like his last spell under McFall, it would quickly deteriorate as Adair and the boss clashed over his perceived attitude and positioning amongst the senior goalkeepers at the club. Ricky was transfer listed in December 1987, and despite attempts from Cliftonville to force a move to Solitude – the end of Ricky’s football career would be quietly unfolding at just 24-years-old.

With his football career at a standstill - Ricky would go on to successfully turn his hand to cricket as his first choice sport, turning out top performances for his native Holywood throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.

His sporting legacy continued as two of his sons both enjoyed success as professional sportsmen as Ross Adair played rugby for Ulster and also cricket internationally for Ireland, alongside younger brother Mark who also emerged as a successful Ireland international cricketer.

Career
(1977) Glentoran; (Jun 1983) Carrick Rangers; (Jun 1985) Ballymena United; (Aug 1987) Portadown