Edited sentence: A third place finish that season had many believing that United would pick up where they left off, becoming the biggest provincial side in the country; Having been the first team outside of Belfast to win the County Antrim Shield.Ballymena United did not return to the League until 1946/1947, when they returned to the Belfast & District League for one season, before the Irish League reformed the following year.Despite the fact that the Irish League had not left Celtic Park between 1936 and 1948; Belfast Celtic were forced to leave the Irish League and Ballymena benefited by grabbing some of their talented players, including a new player-manager Billy McMillan.However, a series of poor seasons was stopped in 1951 with the club's second County Antrim Shield - beating Cliftonville 2-0.However, after this victory United went through another bleak period in the mid 1950's as United finished bottom of the league twice.In 1955 the club was forced to launch an appeal to clear its mounting debts - the Ballymena people responded - debts were paid and a small amount was left over to go into the club's coffers.McMillan was replaced by the experienced Walter Rickett after two seasons.The following season, Ballymena United won the Festival of Britain Cup, beating Crusaders 3-0 at Solitude.The one-off competition was played in 1952 to coincide with the Festival celebrations throughout Great Britain, and the trophy still resides at the Showgrounds.The replacements beat Linfield 2-0 in the County Antrim Shield Final - bringing their first trophy other than the Irish Cup to the Showgrounds.United reached the Irish Cup Final in 1951, only to be beaten by Glentoran 3-1 at Windsor Park, with their only goal coming from Currie.United's squad was built up, only to be released by Bob McKay in 1947