Ballinamallard United Football Club is a semi-professional Northern Irish football club playing in the NIFL Championship. The club, re-formed in 1975 after being dormant since the 1960s, hails from Ballinamallard, near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, and plays its home matches at Ferney Park. Club colours are all royal blue (home), and all white (away).
During 2008âÂÂ09 and the first part of 2009âÂÂ10, the club played at Holm Park, the home of Armagh City, while Ferney Park was brought up to Championship standard. The club's first match back at its own ground was on 5 December 2009 in its first ever major cup quarter final against Portadown in the League Cup.
In February 2011 the club reached its first ever Irish Cup quarter final when it defeated Lisburn Distillery 4âÂÂ2 after a 6th Round replay at Ferney Park.
On 31 March 2012, the club secured promotion to the top flight of Northern Irish football for the first time in their history. A 3âÂÂ2 win over Bangor secured the 2011âÂÂ12 IFA Championship 1 title, and promotion to the 2012âÂÂ13 IFA Premiership. They became the first team from County Fermanagh to play senior football.
In their first season in the Premiership the target was to avoid relegation. However, they surpassed all expectations, finishing 5th in the table. They secured a 2âÂÂ2 draw at Ferney Park in their opening Premiership fixture against Dungannon Swifts, and their stand out results during the season included a 1âÂÂ0 away win over eventual league champions Cliftonville at Solitude in September 2012. They also defeated reigning champions Linfield twice at Windsor Park, 3âÂÂ1 in October 2012 and 1âÂÂ0 in the post-split match in April 2013.
In their second season 2013âÂÂ14 they finished in 10th place, three points above Warrenpoint Town in the play-off place after going unbeaten in their last 6 games of the season. No play-off was ultimately needed that season.
In their third season 2014âÂÂ15 they finished in 9th place, 2 points above Dungannon Swifts in 10th and 9 points above Warrenpoint Town in the play-off place. The club also made history by reaching its first ever major cup semi final when it beat Glentoran in a penalty shootout in a Wasp Solutions League Cup quarter final at Ferney Park.
In the 2015âÂÂ16 season the Mallard's recorded their first ever win at The Oval beating Glentoran 0âÂÂ2 and they also recorded their first ever win at Shamrock Park and The Ballymena Showgrounds winning 3âÂÂ0 and 2âÂÂ1 respectively. The Mallard's Irish Cup campaign was a disappointing one going out in the 5th Round on penalties to Coleraine after surrendering a two-goal lead in the second half. They reached the Quarter-Finals of the League Cup before being knocked out by eventual finalists Ards in another penalty shoot out. The Mallard's contested a thrilling end to the season with Carrick Rangers and Warrenpoint Town with Ballinamallard beating Carrick 1âÂÂ0 on the final day and Warrenpoint beating Dungannon Swifts 1âÂÂ0 meaning Carrick would automatically return to NIFL Championship 1 and Warrenpoint Town would contest the promotion/relegation play-off and the Fermanagh side would be safe.
However, in the 89th minute at Taylor's Avenue Carrick Rangers equalized through Mark Surgenor meaning that Carrick would still be automatically relegated to the NIFL Championship 1 but that Ballinamallard would now contest the play-off and Warrenpoint Town would be safe in 10th place. The drama took yet another turn when in the 94th minute of the game at Taylor's Avenue in the final minute of stoppage time, Miguel Chines scored a stunning bicycle kick to win the game for Carrick Rangers meaning in fact that they would be safe prompting wild celebrations from the Carrick supporters meaning now that Ballinamallard would be automatically relegated to Championship 1 and Warrenpoint would contest the play-off. In the final turn, Warrenpoint Town conceded a controversial penalty in the dying seconds of their game with Andrew Mitchell putting it away to make it 1âÂÂ1 now automatically relegating Warrenpoint Town and Ballinamallard United contesting the play-off with Institute where they managed to beat the Drumahoe side 2âÂÂ1 away from home and drew 3âÂÂ3 at Ferney Park to secure the club's premier league status for the 2016âÂÂ17 season. On 13 May 2016 it was announced legendary manager, Whitey Anderson, would be leaving the club after over ten years service. Finn Harps assistant coach Gavin Dykes was appointed as his replacement. The Mallards went on to secure 10th place to guarantee their 6th season in the NIFL Premiership.
On 30 March 2019 Ballinamallard United reached their first ever Irish Cup final by beating Warrenpoint Town in a penalty shoot-out. Striker Ryan Campbell scored the winning penalty. In the final on 4 May, they lost 3âÂÂ0 to Crusaders.
In November 2023, the club appointed former Dergview boss Tommy Canning following the departure of Harry McConkey, who had managed the club since March 2018. Canning would depart the club at the end of the season, citing work commitments and travel for the reason behind his resignation. Mark Stafford, having served under Canning as assistant manager, was named as his successor.
<small>â Won by Ballinamallard United II (reserve team)</small>