Stuart Hutchinson and Feargal Murphy have played important roles in Ballinamallard’s recent Premier League campaigns but neither player will be wearing the Mallard’s shirt at Ferney Park this season after they left the club during the summer.

Stuart Hutchinson was a success story of the club’s thriving youth set up. He started his Ballinamallard career at mini soccer on a Saturday morning and worked his way up through the ranks to represent the first team in the Premier League. Ballinamallard manager Whitey Anderson always rated Stuart highly, and he admits he is disappointed that work commitments mean the midfielder will no longer be a part of the squad.

“Stuart will be a big loss as, without doubt, he could still be one of the best midfielders in the Premiership,” said Whitey. “He has been unfortunate with injuries but he was coming into his own last season and now unfortunately work commitments mean he won’t be available to us next season. However, we have discussed the possibility of his return to the club if circumstances change. Stuart has played a big part in this club’s progress and it has been a pleasure to work with him. He has been a favourite among both his peers and supporters and if a manager had 16 Stuart Hutchinsons in his changing room he would be on to a winner. I wish him well in the future.” Stuart was a key member of the 1990s youth squad managed by his uncle Brian Khan before making the breakthrough into the first team squad five years ago, where he was a member of the Fermanagh and Western Intermediate Cup winning squad with brother Grant, and won the coveted Under 21 Player of the Year award. He was an ever-present in the Championship 1 winning squad but since then injuries have curtailed his appearances in the top flight.

He played 18 times in the Mallard’s inaugural Premier League campaign before surgery, and after a long spell on the side lines he recovered to make a further 67 appearances over the last 2 campaigns.

Feargal Murphy made 47 appearances for Ballinamallard United since returning to the club in 2011, twelve years after making history as a member of Whitey Anderson’s Under 13 squad in 1999 which won the club’s first ever Brendan Keogh Youth League silverware. Feargal was a schoolboy international whilst at the club and after a spell away he returned as a member of Whitey’s squad which won the IFA Championship 1 title in 2011/12 and created history again by getting promoted to the Premiership. He picked up an IFA winner’s medal the following season too as a regular in John Quinn’s Ballinamallard United II squad that won the Reserve League title. Feargal made his senior debut in season 2013/14 and over the past two seasons he shared the keeper’s duties with first Alvin Rouse and then Stefan McCusker. Next season Feargal will play his football for Irvinestown Wanderers after being released by the manager. “It was a hard decision to let Feargal go given that I have known and coached him at various times over the years,” said Whitey. “Feargal was a popular player and character around Ferney Park and he can be proud of the part he has played in the progress of this club over the years. I wish him all the very best for the future.”