By Daniel Noble
COMBER Rec have announced the appointment of Stephen Gourley as their new first team manager.
Having left NIFL Championship side Dundela in October, Gourley joins Comber following the departure of legendary managers Gareth McKeown and Mark Picking back in March.
The former management duo guided the Rec to promotion to the NAFL Premier Division, before winning the club’s first top division title, second Steel & Sons Cup and third Border Cup.
Their dismissal came as a shock to many, given the fact that they had been responsible for putting Comber back on the footballing map after a lengthy hiatus from the upper echelons of the Amateur League, delivering a haul of silverware to boot.
McKeown and Picking have left big shoes to fill at the Parkway club, but the Rec have taken their time in appointing a replacement and now they have their man.
New boss Gourley arrives with a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch. He made more than 400 appearances as a player and captain for Dundela, before moving into management and serving as sporting director with the club.
His new side will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing campaign, in which they finished fourth in the league, 23 points behind champions Derriaghy, and went trophyless.
Gourley could be the man to help them do just that, aiming to steady the ship after a rocky start to 2026 and get Comber back to competing for top silverware, boasting a CV littered with achievements from his time with Dundela.
In his 23-year career with the Belfast team, across two spells, in both managerial and playing roles, he reached four Steel Cup finals, an Intermediate Cup final, two League Cup finals, won two league titles and narrowly lost out to Portadown in the race for the Irish Premiership.
The most recent stint at Wilgar Park, which came to a somewhat abrupt end, may offer cause for concern for the Comber supporters, but Gourley has had his say on that.
“Three seasons ago, Dundela asked us [Gourley and his coaching team] to come back and help bring stability to the club, which we’re proud to say we achieved,” he explained.
“The Championship has become extremely competitive now, with so many professional players involved, which makes recruitment very difficult. We stepped away, but we’re hungry for a new challenge.”
The management setup has been further bolstered by the addition of experienced coaches Laurence Fyfe, Glenn Halliday and Garth Scates, and they have already started preparing for the season ahead.
Now officially at the helm, with his team around him, Gourley has outlined his aims and promises for his new club.
“Our aim now is to help put Comber Rec back challenging at the top end of the league again. The Steel & Sons Cup also means a lot to us, having been involved in so many finals over the years, so we’d love to be competing strongly in that as well.
“We’ll work extremely hard and do everything we can to help bring more success to Comber Rec Football Club.”
The acquisition of Gourley and his footballing experience is something that has filled chairman Gary McKibbin with confidence.
“I am thrilled and excited to welcome Stephen to Comber Rec Football Club. Stephen’s outstanding track record, both as a player and manager, speaks for itself, and we believe his appointment can help take the club to the next level,” he stated.
“I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to his backroom staff, Laurence Fyfe, Garth Scates and Glenn Halliday. Their experience, professionalism and knowledge of the game give us real confidence for the future.
“With this management team in place, we believe the club is in very good hands moving forward. I want to wish them all the very best of luck and officially welcome them to the Comber Rec family.”
