05-08-64: Linfield (a) (Ken Gilliland Benefit) 3-0 (HT ?) Crowd (?)

A product of Boyland Boys Club, Gilliland signed at the age of 19 in 1954. He had to be content with two years with the Swifts before Dick Keith was lured to Newcastle United to set up an all Irish Full-Back partnership with Alf McMichael. Gilliland soon cemented a permanemt spot in the Right Back position and remained first choice for a dozen years, sharing in the cascade of Championships, Cups and Trophies that came the club's way during that period. In addition to the club's triumphs Gilliland also gained representative honours. While still with Boyland Boys Club he was chosen for the Northern Ireland Boys Clubs against England and as a Swifts' player he became a junior International, playing against Scotland, before being capped at Amateur level soon after making the Linfield first team. He went on to represent the Irish League 12 times, played once for the Irish F.A. XI against The Army and played for County Antrim against the Sheffield F.A. XI. He continued to play for Linfield until 1970, playing more than 500 games, which included 17 European games. He retired at the age of 35 before the 1970-71 season.