Ards FC Home Matches

Ards FC’s home matches are played at Clandeboye Park in Bangor, not in the club’s home town of Newtownards, a quirk that dates back to losing their own Castlereagh Park ground in 1998. The next fixture there is against Dundela on Tuesday 11 August 2026 in the NIFL Championship, the first of a season of home games at a ground the club rents from local rivals Bangor FC.

What to expect

Ards are one of the oldest clubs in Irish League football, founded in 1900 and champions as recently as 1957-58. Financial trouble forced the sale of Castlereagh Park in 1998, and after the ground was demolished the club spent years groundsharing with Cliftonville, Carrick Rangers and Ballyclare Comrades before settling at Clandeboye Park. Plans for a new stadium at Londonderry Park were shelved in 2012, so home games continue at Bangor FC’s ground for now. On the pitch, Ards have bounced between the Premiership and Championship over the last decade, with promotions in 2013-14 and 2016-17. Expect a well-travelled Ards support making the short trip from Newtownards to Bangor for home games, in a competition that runs a 37-match season across sixteen clubs before the mid-season split.

Getting there

Clandeboye Park is on the Clandeboye Road in Bangor, a short drive or taxi ride from Bangor’s train station on the Belfast to Bangor line. Car parking is available near the ground on match nights.

While you’re in Bangor

Bangor’s seafront, marina and Ward Park are all close by if you are making a night of it around the match. There is more to see in Bangor and across Co. Down.

Good to know

• Next home fixture: Tuesday, 11 August 2026, kick-off 7:45pm, v Dundela
• Venue: Clandeboye Park, Bangor, Co. Down (Ards FC’s home ground, rented from Bangor FC)
• Competition: NIFL Championship, 2026-27 season
• Home matches continue through the season roughly every one to two weeks
• Admission charged at the gate