People Behind the Ports – Jonny Dunlop

Here at portadownfc.co.uk we have decided to shine a much deserved light on the volunteers at the club the work so hard behind the scenes to make sure all aspects of your football club work like a well oiled machine, from ticket sellers to clubs shop to media team we all have a part to play and we want to hear from the many stories from all around the club so you can see what they actually get up to and how they contribute.

Next up we have Jonny Dunlop.

Role at club: On Media Team, Treasurer of WAP (We Are Ports) & in PSS (Portadown Supporters Society).

How long have you been volunteering at PFC: Around 9 years or so.

What got you first involved: Was asked to join the PSS initially and then eventually ended up helping with the Social Media side of the Media Team and through the PSS was involved in the establishing of WE ARE PORTS. Its my home town team and had been coming to games since I was around five so just wanted to do what I could to help as it’s easy to criticise and moan about what the club could do better from the sidelines.

Earliest memory: My earliest memory is the Irish Cup final of 91, the whole build up of the day, the sun splitting the trees and the buzz about the town.

Favourite memory: My most favourite memory is an odd one, I wasn’t old enough to appreciate the early league titles so my favourite memory is the buzz and coverage the signing of Garry Haylock got in 1995. It was a massive signing, possibly in shock value the biggest signing the league had ever seen and it really shook Northern Irish football due to the enormity of it, no one seen it coming.  Still remember being woken by my dad busting into my bedroom waving the paper about shouting about the Ports signing Haylock and it being the only thing been talked about in the town that week.

Match day routine: With being on the Social Media side of things and on the Media Team, our match day routine will normally start on the Monday following the previous Saturdays game! We (Beats, Matt G, Matt W & me) will chat about how to promote the next game, I’ll do up a match preview normally on the Thursday and spend the week posting on social media about the game, sponsors etc. I also look after the PSS Man of the Match sponsorship so during the week if we don’t already have a sponsor try and get one. On the morning of the match everything then is quite calm until 2:30pm when we will start posting team information then it’s full steam ahead.  I’m also in charge of the WE ARE PORTS Whatsapp group which brings members live team news and live match updates so come 2:30pm it can be a juggling act of posting things multiple times on multiple platforms.

Something that nobody notices: Probably the thing that no one notices is that administrating the social media accounts isn’t just a 3pm-5pm thing, they’re 24/7. If Ports win or we release big positive news, my phone notifications are going off constantly with lots of positive and excited supporters but on the other hand if we lose or somethings announced that fans don’t agree with, then a lot will take to social media to vent at the social media accounts with many feeling this is a direct line to the manager or the board which it isn’t, it’ just comes through to me who is a normal supporter who is just as disappointed if we lose as everybody else. Sometimes when you’re beat on Saturday you just want to forget about the football for the evening but with being involved with the social media side of things you can’t, you have to still be across everything…negative comments and all.

What do you love about Portadown: Whats not to love! I love the togetherness of everyone coming together on a Saturday afternoon, the friendships and comradery borne out of our support for the same football club. I’ve made close friends through PFC that I’d never would have if it wasn’t for the club. The buzz on a match day morning and come 4:45pm if you’ve picked up the three points is something else. I feel our football club has come on leaps and bounds over the past few years, there’s definitely more of a community feel and everyone pulling in the same direction. Also this group of players we have now are a breath of fresh air and you feel they get the football club and want to play for the club and its fans and aren’t here for an easy wage packet. It’s great to see them come into the club rooms after games and mingle and chat with supporters and have a laugh…this was missing for far too long so its brilliant to see that return. Also WE ARE PORTS has had a massive impact and is another reason to love our club and support, we now have 117 members all paying £12 a month into the scheme for the betterment of our football club and to help put us back where we belong which I think is pretty special and shows the loyalty and commitment of our fan base.

What are you missing about the Ports during the lockdown: That buzz on a Saturday and with living in a house full of women (a wife and 3 daughters) for the sake of my sanity it helps to get away from all things pink and glittery for a few hours each Saturday!