Paul RossBallymena United’s manager has said a 21-year-old fan who died in a car crash will always be in their hearts after she is honoured in their new kit.
Lydia Ross, who was from the Ballymoney area, died after sustaining serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash in County Londonderry in December 2023.
In memory of Lydia, Ballymena United have featured a sky blue ribbon on the front of their third kit for the 2025/26 season.
The team’s manager, Jim Ervin, said that the “shirt represents Lydia, Paul and the family”.
He said he “very rarely missed” a Ballymena United football match with Lydia and remembers the events as “special” memories.
“You’re there win, lose, or draw, and that was the way we did it.
“It was just me and her – they always say I spoiled her”, Mr Ross told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
“We have been carried the whole 17 months by so many people, we just can’t get over it, and it’s still coming.
“The likes of this, the video, the third kit, there’s just always somethings been there in front of us, especially for me to focus on, which gives us great strength that people want to do what they do.”
Paul RossMr Ross said he and Lydia were lucky enough to meet some of the players when they attended matches.
“The players were all so nice and so welcoming. Her favourite was Steven McCullough.”
Mr Ross said his late daughter “would not believe” what he is doing.
“Even though I’m a sales rep and I talk all day, every day, I’m not a good public speaker.
“My voice would go at different things, but she won’t believe I’m doing this out front, standing at the away.”
Allow X content?
The team’s new third kit features blue and grey diagonal stripes with a small sky blue ribbon design in the middle in line with the club crest, in reference to Mr Ross’ fundraising campaign, and the team’s nickname – the Sky Blues.
A contribution from all the sales of the shirt will be donated to Air Ambulance NI, a charity Lydia’s family has been raising money for since her funeral.
Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin said that the “shirt now represents more than just Ballymena United”.
He added: “I think it goes to show what Paul and Paul’s family mean to everybody associated with Ballymena and also the Irish League, and what Paul has done through this last 17 months in supporting and keeping Lydia’s memory going.
“She’s certainly someone that at Ballymena we’ll always have her in our hearts, and she’ll always be very close, like Paul and Paul’s family.
“We’ll always be there to try and help support them as much as we possibly can.”
Mr Ervin said he knows that Lydia would have been “very proud” of her father.
