Q Radio Sport
The new Danske Bank Premiership season kicks off this weekend.
The opening games on Friday night see Larne hosting Coleraine and Portadown at home to derby rivals Glenavon.
Champions Linfield launch their defence of the Gibson Cup on Saturday against Crusaders at Windsor Park.
Glentoran go to Dungannon Swifts, Warrenpoint Town have Ballymena United and Cliftonville face Carrick Rangers at Solitude.
It's a first match as a Premiership manager for new Carrick boss Stuart King who's joined the club from Banbridge Town.
He's hit the ground running and made a series of shrewd signings including his former Linfield teammate Jim Ervin and ex-Crues star David Cushley.
🎥 The #DanskeBankPrem kicks-off this weekend with games Friday & Saturday.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 26, 2021
Fans are back for an eagerly-anticipated campaign.
Exciting times, not least for this new Premiership boss - ex-@OfficialBlues star @stuart523 who takes new-look @CarrickRangers to @cliftonvillefc
1/2 pic.twitter.com/nIinZpwPwa
🎥 New @CarrickRangers boss @stuart523 was an Irish League star as a player @OfficialBlues etc & also made it across the water with @pnefc
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 26, 2021
Great memories. Now he's looking to the future & on the eve of a new season says football here's going from strength to strength:
2/2 pic.twitter.com/qGTyWMdvSQ
Fans are back, with the Northern Ireland Football League issuing some advice to clubs in the past week:
⚽️ #NIFL says it's received clarification on current Covid restrictions ahead of #DanskeBankPrem starting next week - social distancing is no longer required outdoors & attendances will be determined by each club's individual risk assessment.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2021
In full👇
Sport on air on the hour pic.twitter.com/8a91xUEJ8t
Meanwhile, the Green and White Army is set to return in strength next month:
16,000 fans to attend Northern Ireland v Switzerland World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park on September 8.#GAWA
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 26, 2021
Irish FA - pic.twitter.com/zDC8BrCC54
This weekend the focus is on the Irish League, and these games:
