'John will never be forgotten and I think that's a really special thing' - Campbell College's McKinney Cup part of special tribute day

McKinney dedicated 43 years of his life to Campbell College – living on the school grounds, as 1st XV coach and later Master in Charge of Rugby.

He shaped decades of players and guided Campbell to four Schools’ Cup victories, plus helped countless boys progress to provincial and international honours.

McKinney passed away in December 2025 and this weekend the Campbell community will gather to pay a fitting tribute.

Campbell will face BRA, the school he attended, with the winners being awarded the McKinney Cup after the game and a sports centre renamed in honour of McKinney.

“It’s a really big day for Campbell College after losing John McKinney, a legend of Campbell College and Campbell College rugby after his 43 years of service,” said current Campbell coach Ritchie McMaster, who was managed by McKinney as a player before working with him at the school. “It is a fantastic testament to his service to Campbell the sports centre has been renamed the H.J. McKinney Sports Hall and then off the back of that we're now playing for the John McKinney Cup against John's alma mater BRA.

"So what will be a day which will be tinged with sadness, obviously having lost John just under a year ago, at the same time will be a very fitting tribute to the man.

“John has been a man who has taken Ulster and Irish rugby to the next level, I remember John being my Ulster Schools manager back in 2009-2010 then went on to become Irish Schools manager alongside being Ulster under 20s manager.

"The work that he put into both of those organisations...he's helped grow the game, for me, not only Campbell, but Ulster and Irish Rugby are indebted to John for that.

“It wouldn't matter if you were talking to John in the staff room at break time, you bumped into him in the corridor in Campbell College, or he was a member of the geography department I work in or you could have been coaching the Irish national side, or maybe the Ulster team...John still treated everybody with the same respect.

“John expected the highest standards of everybody around him and he was just such a gentleman...just second to none.

“John was a guy around Campbell College who most definitely had aura, you'll see that on Saturday at the game with the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people who will come along to honour his legacy.”

Campbell won the Schools’ Cup on St Patrick’s Day this year with McKinney’s initials embroidered into the shirts.

“We just got really comfortable speaking about John, even when John wasn't well towards last October, November, December,” said McMaster. “Then, unfortunately, him passing away in December, the cup campaign beginning in January...us being able to tap into Valerie his wife, Rebecca his daughter, and James his son, was invaluable.

“I think it was just a lovely fitting tribute to John's professional career at Campbell College, but also his private life, because he lived here for the 43 years he was a teacher and a master here.

"It was just an incredibly special time last year to be able to honour his legacy and get over the line in that one.”

McMaster feels it is imperative that McKinney’s memory is kept alive at the school for the future generations.

“I’m just looking around the school with some of the signage which is going up, and there'll be some great photographs being shared and already have been shared on social media over the last little while,” he said. “And I think for the young boys coming into Campbell, John will never be forgotten and I think that's a really special thing.

“It’s incredibly important, all the boys who would be now fifth year, lower sixth, upper sixth, would have encountered John whenever they were eighth, ninth or 10th year because, unfortunately, John had a very short retirement.

"But for the guys who are coming in currently in years eight, nine and 10, to them, John McKinney needs to be just more than a name.

“As long as Campbell College is still an institution in East Belfast, John McKinney's name will be synonymous with the school.

"And we're incredibly lucky, as I've said, that Valerie still lives on the outskirts of the grounds and James and Rebecca are incredibly supportive, helping us with different bits and pieces, whether it be rugby related or just generally helping with all bits and pieces around the school.

“So, yeah, John's name will never be forgotten.”