Member's statement: Loughgall Football Club: 100th Birthday of Hilbert Willis
Member's statement by Mr Jonathan Buckley on .
- MLA
- Mr Jonathan Buckley
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 February 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Loughgall Football Club: 100th Birthday of Hilbert Willis
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4217571
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise on a celebratory note first thing this Monday afternoon, because I attended a "first" this weekend alongside my Assembly colleague Tom Elliott. That was to celebrate the 100th birthday of Loughgall Football Club living legend, Hilbert Willis. It is a remarkable achievement for anybody to reach the 100th year milestone, but Hilbert is not an ordinary man. He has put his life, heart and soul into Loughgall Football Club, serving for some 30 years as its groundsman, 10 years as its chairman and is still active to this very day. Most recently, Hilbert wanted to put his best foot forward to raise funds for the club during COVID-19 by completing 100 laps of the pitch. He was joined by visiting dignitaries from football clubs across Northern Ireland. I know that he is held in high esteem across the sporting community. Hilbert has had a long and enduring life. Born in February 1924, he has seen such an array of changes throughout his time on earth. When we look at Northern Ireland in that way, we see that Hilbert has lived through much of its existence. He told me on Saturday that he remembers ploughing the fields with the horses. His is a remarkable mind, and he is a remarkable individual. I know that the House will join me in wishing him well as he celebrates his 100th year. For the avoidance of doubt, Hilbert will probably be tuning in to the comments that have been made about him not only in the House but across the sporting spectrum. Liam Beckett was MC at Loughgall Football Club as it put on an event for Hilbert on Saturday. We were shocked at just how mindful people across the sporting community, from all backgrounds, were of Hilbert's significant achievement. The Hilbert Willis Stand now stands proudly at Loughgall Football Club. I am told that he has not yet missed a game this year. In all weather conditions, Hilbert Willis is an icon and a legend at Loughgall Football Club. I will finish with the football chant that is now usual at Loughgall: "There is only one Hilbert Willis".
357 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.02 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.81 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.14 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.04 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 09:35 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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