Chairman’s Message, 31 August 2018

Aug 31, 2018 | Archive

TOMORROW we travel to Newforge Lane, to take on a PSNI team currently under the stewardship of experienced ex-Inver Reds striker Colly Malone.

Anything you take away from a team managed by Colly you have to work for. Tomorrow will be no different, and we’ll need to show our mettle from the off if we are to leave with our unbeaten league record still intact.

We go into the game on the back of a nail biting 3-2 win at Loughgall on Friday night and an equally energy sapping 3-2 extra time defeat to Glentoran at The Oval on Tuesday evening.

To be honest, I’m disappointed not to be sitting here having recorded victories in both games, but on the other hand and like everyone else, I breathed a huge sigh of relief on the final whistle at Loughgall on Friday evening. That’s how close both games were and, in both instances, we need to look no further than the mirror in the analysis of how we could have changed or influenced the outcomes. 

We are playing an exciting brand of high tempo, passing football in a system that is maybe new to some of the players and with that comes learning curves and growing pains which are to be expected and learned from. It’s not as if we’re being ripped apart by teams, a few individual errors are hurting us, but the more the boys train and work together the more I’m confident these will be eradicated and we will be really proud of the results that they deliver. Again, it’s all about working hard and learning, nothing in this league is going to come easy.

Moving on, can I thank the supporters who travelled in numbers to both games for your support? As always it is greatly appreciated. I know its cliched but in games like these you really are our twelfth man and can be the difference in pulling us over the line.  Please keep making it happen.

Our numbers have been pretty much depleted in the week due to unforeseen illnesses and injuries, these however have given opportunities to others who have came in and performed admirably. Indeed, I’m not normally one for mentioning individuals but I think the performance of Liam Hassin at Loughgall and the work rate and effort of Cillin Gilmore at Glentoran are worthy of note. Well done lads and keep pushing on.

At the time of writing we are working tirelessly to try and get a few deals over the line before the transfer window closes. From the nine or ten opportunities Tiernan has been working hard on, we are hopeful of closing on two that we believe can strengthen us in areas where we feel we are a little short. I really hope these come through as the manager has worked round the clock all week to try and make it happen.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate and commiserate with the Ladies on their efforts this season. Unfortunately, Wednesday night against Shamrock Ladies was one step too far for them, but I can assure you it wasn’t for the want of trying or a lack of effort, hey it just wasn’t to be. They trained hard, they prepared both professionally and meticulously on and off the pitch and congratulations must go to Shamrock, you deserved the victory. Well done.

Last Sunday saw the first run out for the newly formed Larne Legends at Inver Park against Glentoran Legends. Although the Glens won 5-3, friendship and Carolyn Tweed’s Arctic Trek were the real victors on the day. Old friendships and rivalries were renewed whilst raising £1000 for Cancer Focus, I, for one, couldn’t have been happier as to how the day unfolded and I cannot thank everyone enough for their support. Let’s do it again soon…

Before concluding, it has been a very busy week off the pitch, working on various projects that I hope to be in a position to shed some more light on in the coming weeks. Things really are progressing at a rate of knots which is going to continue to excite the town. 

Finally, the town laid young Sammy Haveron to rest on Monday afternoon and I was immensely proud to see the players, management and staff of Larne Football Club represented in such numbers. As the senior club in the town it is hugely important that we support the wider football family in the area, this is something that is not lost on us and we will continue to foster and grow these relationships.

Regards

Gareth 

#RAWA

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