Chris Getty Retires
It is with sadness that we announce that Whites defender Chris Getty has announced his retirement at the age of 35.
Chris started his football career in 2005 when Ballymena Manager Tommy Wright signed him as an 18-year-old. After four seasons there and a handful of senior appearances he moved on to Ballymoney United for three seasons before joining Ballyclare Comrades in 2013/14. In the 2016/17 season he turned out for Ahoghill Thistle and in 2017/18 he was signed by Bangor and helped them win the O’Gorman Cup that season. In January 2019 he re-joined Ballyclare Comrades.
Chris joined Distillery from Ballyclare Comrades at the start of the 2019/20 season and made his debut on 27th August 2019 in a Second Round League Cup game at Larne.
He played regularly at centre back alongside Mark Stewart making 20 appearances before the season was curtailed in March 2020. Chris scored two goals that season — his first against Strabane in a 3-2 Irish Cup victory on 28th September 2019 and his second was a crucial goal in a 1-1 PIL draw at Limavady on 1st February 2020. He played in the only game of the 20/21 season against Ards.
This season he made 12 appearances and scored one goal (2nd October 2021 against Ballymena United U-20 in the Steele & Sons Cup). His last match was the Steele & Sons Cup Semi-Final against Linfield Swifts on 17th November 2021. Since then he has been an unused sub in five games.
Chris has been a strong towering centre half putting in consistent performances. A fan-favourite earning three consecutive Echlinville Player of the Month awards for December 2019, January 2020 and February 2020. He finishes his Distillery career with a total of 33 (31+2 as sub) appearances and 3 goals.
We thank him for all that he has done in a white shirt and wish him well for the future.
