'Everything we do still bears John's mark' - Campbell College's McKinney shirt tribute to 'honour his legacy' in Schools' Cup campaign

McKinney arrived at Campbell College in 1980 and dedicated 43 years of his life to the east Belfast school, living on campus.

As 1st XV coach and later Master in Charge of Rugby, McKinney shaped decades of players and guided Campbell to four Schools’ Cup victories, alongside helping countless boys progress to provincial and international honours.

McKinney passed away just after Christmas 2025 and McMaster believes it would be a fitting tribute to bring the Schools’ Cup back to Belmont Road.

“This year's campaign has really been dedicated to John McKinney, his influence on Campbell rugby spanned across five generations through his coaching, the standards he set and care for the boys he guided,” said McMaster. “It really is something we've tried to honour through our performances.

“This year we've actually had John's initials embroidered on to the players’ shirts...everything we do still bears John's mark.

“Those standards he set, the mentality he had and the expectation of boys at Campbell College to play the game of rugby union are deep-rooted...really what he taught us.

“Wearing his initials is our way of keeping him with us for one final cup campaign and it’s been a real source of confidence for us as well.

“John meant the world to Campbell College and I know Campbell College meant the world to him as well.

"We’re still staying in contact with his wife Valerie, daughter Rebecca and son James...John’s influence lives on.

“He was coach for four Schools’ Cup wins, he was involved in five Schools’ Cup wins across his 43 years at Campbell College.

"He is dearly missed every day but, at the same time, we hope we can honour his legacy by putting on a performance on St Patrick's Day.”

McMaster is confident that his side can channel the emotion of the occasion into a positive.

“Unfortunately, John passed away just after Christmas so we've had some time to reflect on that and it's something we've thought long and hard about and the boys have been used to talking about John,” said McMaster. “John would have taught a lot, if not all, of the boys in the squad, whether that was PE or geography.

"So, in terms of managing our emotions, I think whenever we cross the white line it is all about the rugby at the end of the day.

“We take great strength from remembering John and there'll be some nice words said in the build-up - there have been already this cup campaign – but the guys will be focused on the job at hand.”

Not only did McKinney have a massive influence on the pupils at Campbell, he was a mentor to McMaster when he joined the school.

“John put in a word for me back in the summer of 2016, so coming up to 10 years ago now,” he said. “I was incredibly lucky to work alongside John, not only in the geography department but obviously in the rugby side of things.

“John was my manager at Ulster Schools back in 2009 and his fatherly influence and words of wisdom over the years offered great comfort, especially as I was a young teacher and a young rugby coach just making my way at the start of my career.

"I owe an awful lot to him and I know other staff members feel the same and many boys and pupils who have passed through the school.

“John set incredible standards...the last time I spoke to him was October, he came and watched our game against Belvedere College and I would try to meet him for a coffee or just text him and he always spoke about making sure that we upheld and continue to uphold the standards which mark Campbell College rugby.

“How Campbell boys play the game, that's rooted in those standards John set back in the 1980s.”

McMaster will be up against his friend, Jamie Kirk, in the final.

“Jamie and I go back an awful long way and I have incredible respect for him as a person and as a coach and I value him as a very good friend as well,” said McMaster. “I'm definitely looking forward to going against Inst...a formidable challenge, there's no doubt about it.

"They have got some very talented rugby players who've played at national level and they've other good players littered throughout their squad.

"They did beat us in November when we played them at the Dub on a Friday night.

“So, I think going into the game we just need to focus and stick to our processes, I know they'll be doing the same.

"As I said to the boys, Inst have their own hopes, aspirations and ambitions to win a cup this year...but so have we.

“I think we've prepped pretty well so we just need to make sure that we manage the emotions on St Patrick's Day and just play the game and not the occasion.

“The one thing I'm really proud of in this Campbell College group is their connection, how they've come together as a group of young men.

“To define this season we wanted to commit to the process, we wanted to connect as a group and then actually believe in ourselves.

“So those things have guided our season.”