Portadown Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of former Coleraine & Crusaders defender Howard Beverland from Ballyclare Comrades.
The 31 year old Ballymoney-native made his first-team debut for Coleraine aged just 17 and went on to captain the club as he became a mainstay in the heart of the Bannsiders defence.
In 2016 Howard would join Crusaders where he lifted the Irish Premiership title as well as Irish Cup and County Antrim Shield medals before returning to the Coleraine Showgrounds in 2020.
Beverland would depart Coleraine for a second time, joining Championship side Ballyclare Comrades in August 2021 following a difficult 12 months back at his boyhood club due to injury and fitness issues which was compounded by covid restrictions and no development league football available to get back to match fitness and sharpness.
Portadown manager Matthew Tipton will hope the decorated defender will bring a wealth of experience to his defence as the Shamrock aces aim for Premiership safety in the new year.
This is what the manager had to say on his latest acquisition
I’m really pleased to get Howard in so soon into January. It’s no secret that we have been looking for an experienced centre half to come in & this is not a slight on the boys who have been playing there but both Paul & Adam have been playing injured for most of the season & with nothing behind them of any experience they have had to battle on most weeks.
Howard has had a distinguished career in the Irish league so we are hoping he brings the leadership qualities that seen him captain Coleraine at a young age as well the the winning mentality that his seen him pick up trophies at Crusaders.
I must place on record my thanks to Paul Harbinson for the professionalism he showed in all of our dealings over Howard.