The 2022–23 season is Glenavon's 103rd season in the top flight of the Northern Ireland Football League. In addition to the domestic league, the team competed in the Irish Cup, the League Cup and the Mid-Ulster Cup. Gary Hamilton continued in the managerial role, having been appointed in 2011.

Glenavon finished seventh in the 2022–23 NIFL Premiership league table. As a result of its placing in the table, the club qualified for the play-offs for qualification to the first qualifying round of the 2023–24 Europa Conference League. In the semi-finals of the playoffs, the team lost to Glentoran. Glenavon was eliminated in the sixth round of the 2022–23 Irish Cup by second tier side Harland & Wolff Welders. In the League Cup, the team lost to championship side Loughgall in the second round.

Pre-season and friendlies Glenavon played eight pre-season friendlies before the start of the regular season, winning seven and losing one. DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultScoreSource16 July 2022LoughgallAwayWon2-119 July 2022BangorAwayWon7-328 July 2022Harland & Wolff WeldersAwayWon2-130 July 2022DergviewHomeWon3-13 August 2022Armagh CityAwayWon1-04 August 2022Ballyclare ComradesAwayLost1-26 August 2022Annagh UnitedHomeWon2-110 August 2022DollingstownHomeWon2-0

Personnel Gary Hamilton continued in the managerial role, having been appointed in 2011. The squad consisted of largely Northern Irish men with the exception of two from Ireland. The team brought back Eoin Bradley from Coleraine. The team sold 14 players including Nigerian Sodiq Oguntola, who was brought in during the same transfer window. Andrew Waterworth announced his retirement, and Danny Purkis was released from this contract before the season.

Competitions Overall Record +Match ResultsCompetitionFirst MatchLast MatchFinal PositionRecordPldWinDrawLossNIFL Premiership14 August 202229 April 20237th Place381410145861–3Irish Cup7 January 20234 February 20236th Round2101220NIFL League Cup13 September 20224 October 20222nd Round2101725Mid-Ulster Cup6 September 202211 October 2022Quarter-Final2101660Total441710177371+2

NIFL Premiership

In the opening match of the 2022–23 NIFL Premiership season, Glenavon started with a draw against Ballymena United. The team struggled for form early in the season, and won just two games in the first ten games of the season. The team recovered to score five wins before the mid-season Christmas break. However, the team went on another poor run with six losses in ten matches across January and February. The club finished the season strongly including seven victories in eight matches to end up seventh in the final league table.

Clubs that finish in 3rd–7th place in the table competed for one place in the 2023–24 Europa Conference League first qualifying round. In the semi-finals, Glenavon lost to Glentoran and failed to win a place in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League.

League Table

Irish Cup

In the 2022–23 Irish Cup, Glenavon entered in the fifth round against Ballinamallard United. After winning the match narrowly by two late goals in the injury time, the team faced second-tier club Harland & Wolff Welders in the next round. In the sixth round, Glenavon lost by a solitary goal and crashed out of the competition.

NIFL League Cup

In the 2022–23 Northern Ireland Football League Cup, Glenavon beat Dollingstown in the first round by six goals. In the second round, the team lost to championship club Loughgall and bowed out of the competition.

References