Posted on 2022-10-272022-10-27

Shelbourne Head Coach Damien Duff is looking to bring down the curtain on our season at Tolka Park in winning fashion as Drogheda United visit for what is the last outing on home soil for the season. 

The Reds sign off their final home game with the visit of the Louth club in what is the penultimate game of the SSE Airtricity league campaign for 2022.

Duff will be boosted by the return of Sean Boyd who is available again after serving a two match suspension. 

The Reds boss told ShelbourneFC.ie: “It’s great to have Sean Boyd back from suspension. He’s a presence and an energy on the pitch and off it, around the training ground, other players and staff notice it, when fit and available he’s great. You know Sean is there, he brings energy and as a manager and coaches, we see it, he makes a positive impression. On the pitch, he rattles back lines and just causes trouble.

“Jack Moylan, Mark Coyle and Brian McManus all got some minutes in recent weeks, that’s a good step forward and now it’s really important we keep them fit, and monitor the guys week to week, it’s been a long season. Over the next week or so we’ll look to take the load in training down a bit. Most important is to keep everyone sharp and fit over the next few weeks.”

This will be the fourth and final meeting between the Reds and Drogs this year, Shels lost the most recent match 3-1, but beat Kevin Doherty’s side at Tolka, 1-0, and earlier in the season goals from Dan Hawkins and Mark Coyle saw the Reds leave Head in the Game Park with 3 points. Reflecting on the meetings between the teams, Duff said:

“Our games against Drogheda United this season have been very tight matches, they’ve had a good season, cemented in the division, and weren’t dragged into a scrap at the bottom. You’d have to say Kev Doherty has done a great job. Looking as well I think maybe they’ve a squad similar to ours in the sense that there’s some players in there with points to prove. We have that as well. That motivates guys and can bring something out in them in games.

“We lost our last game against them, but look that’s part and parcel, we’re going to lose matches, but the manner in how we lost up in Drogheda, I was not happy with, I think more so than me the players were disappointed with themselves. They shouldn’t need a team talk now tomorrow off me, it’ll be up to them to bottle that feeling, they’ll have to show what that loss meant and maybe channel it tomorrow night in their performance.”

As the Reds wrap up their final home game of 2022, Duff was keen to thank the fans for their unwavering support at Tolka Park this season, telling ShelbourneFC.ie: “I’m very proud first and foremost to lead the team out at Tolka, but listen it all comes down to results as well for me. I’m not happy if we don’t win. 

“At times it’s been a difficult place for teams to come, Rovers, Sligo, Drogheda, Harps but hey at other times not so. We’ve taken a lot of points on the road which really stood to us as the year wore on. We want to build on what we’ve done this year. To do that we really need to make Tolka a fortress everytime. That’s where the foundation of a successful club is built on, home form, consistency in Tolka. The supporters have been wonderful this year, results, good or bad, they’ve got behind the team, bought into what we’re trying to do, and that means a lot to me and the players and staff.”

The academy has played a vital role this year, with a number of graduates coming in to make first team debuts and feature in the league and cup, among them Gavin Molloy, Jad Hakiki, Gavin Hodgins, Lewis Temple, and Stephan Negru have all played their part. Reflecting on the season as a whole as it reaches the final stages, Duff feels the imprint of the academy in the first team bodes well for the future: 

“When we look back on the season, the impact of the younger players is definitely something we’re pleased with, tinged obviously with some disappointment around Jad’s season being cut short, he was in a really good place in the summer, starting week in, week out, but the injury, it’s been a chronic issue and we haven’t been able to get him right. 

“That’s a big disappointment. The opportunities for academy players to make the step into the first team, that’s naturally and very organically happened where young boys have come in. We’re not giving them minutes for the sake of, those lads have deserved the chance, they’ve done well. I’m excited to see how it grows. Look at players moving up from U17s to U19s. We’ve won the National League at underage level, it really is an amazing achievement. Young boys out there looking for a player pathway to the top level, you can’t look passed Shels because as a club we’ve shown that it exists this season.”

Posted on 2022-10-262022-10-26

Shelbourne Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Rory Kirk as the new Women’s Academy Manager.

Kirk will be responsible for the strategic and operational running of all of the women’s academy teams at Shelbourne Football Club.

A native of Raheny, Dublin. Kirk comes from a background in education, having worked as a secondary school teacher in Glasnevin after graduating with a Masters in Education from Maynooth University. 

Kirk currently holds a UEFA A Licence holder, and joins the Reds having spent the past 3 years coaching Bohemian FC mens U17 National League team. Before that the highly regarded young coach spent the previous 5 years working with Raheny United and St Kevin’s Boys respectively. 

Rory Kirk said: “It’s an extremely exciting time for women’s football in this country with the amazing achievements of the women’s national team. 

“The Shelbourne Women’s National League team have had great success in recent years with a lot of that down to the great work being done in the Academy and the structures put in place at the club. 

“Shelbourne has a proven track record of producing young players for the Senior Women’s teams at both club and international level and that is something that I want to continue well into the future.

“The academy here plays a vital role in the development of girls in Dublin both on and off the pitch and that is down to the outstanding volunteers at the academy who I am extremely excited to work with.”

Posted on 2022-10-232022-10-23

Shelbourne Head Coach Damien Duff has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the visit of UCD to Tolka Park on Monday night.

The Reds face a tight turnaround having played Derry City on Friday night. Jack Moylan marked his return to SSE Airtricity League action with the opening goal of the game in a 1-1 draw at the Ryan McBride Brandywell. 

It was Moylan’s 5th goal in the league this year, his 8th overall. Reds boss Damien Duff told ShelbourneFC.ie that he was delighted to have the attacking midfielder back in action after a recent injury lay-off:

“It’s a great finish from Jack, I’m pleased he’s got more minutes under his belt. He still needs to get stronger and get back up to speed, I’m disappointed we conceded in the 83rd minute, otherwise the performance gives us lots of belief for 3 weeks time.”

Brian McManus also made an appearance after a spell out with a hamstring injury, Duff was delighted to see McManus and the fit again Mark Coyle get minutes into their legs: “You’d have to credit Brian McManus, difficult with injuries in and out, he’s got 70 minutes against Derry, Mark Coyle 60 minutes unscathed, there’s so many plusses again and we just have to dust ourselves down, UCD on Monday, that’s a big game.”

UCD are fighting for survival as the race to avoid the drop reaches the closing stages. Finn Harps remain rooted to the bottom of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table, with UCD having a narrow 2 point cushion over the Donegal side. As the Reds approach their penultimate home game of the season, Duff is pleased with the progress made:

“It speaks volumes how far the club the team has come, Rovers a couple of weeks ago of course we lost but devastated that we should have won the game and Friday night late doors, 10 minutes left we’re 1-0 up and looking to take three points so listen like I’ve said consistently all season, the team has grown and because of their application, because of how they work every day. I don’t think it’s rocket science at times, you work hard and you enjoy your football, you’re going to improve.”

On the challenge of facing UCD, Duff said: “It’s massive, we haven’t won in quite a long time in the league, again our performances, can you fault them? Not really. Yes we haven’t seen out our most recent game, but the lads have been told firmly what Monday means.”

Shels will be without Sean Boyd who is suspended while Matty Smith returns to contention having been unable to play last week against his parent club. Otherwise Duff has a full squad to choose from outside of long term absentees Conor Kane and Dan Hawkins.

Tickets

Tickets for the Reds upcoming SSE Airtricity League clash are available online here: https://shelbournefc.ie/tickets-2/

LOITV

Watch all the action on LOI TV, every Premier Division fixture is available to watch for €7. Commentary from Adam Leonard and 2019 First Division winning defender Derek Prendergast.

Posted on 2022-10-202022-10-20

FAI Cup finalists Shelbourne return to SSE Airtricity League action Derry City on Friday night at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

The Reds come into the game boosted by a 1-0 win over Waterford in their last outing, which set up a meeting with the Candy Stripes in the decider at Lansdowne Road on November 13th.

Jack Moylan made his first appearance since the 3-0 win over Bohemian FC in the FAI Cup quarter-final. Moylan is back in action after a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Shane Farrell also shook off a groin issue to play a pivotal role as the Reds ended an 11 year wait to return to the blue riband occasion. 

Ahead of the trip to Derry Duff told ShelbourneFC.ie: “Sean Boyd is out, Matty Smith can’t play against Derry City. Aside from that we’re near on full strength and good to go. Was great to have Jack Moylan back, he did unbelievably well getting back last week in time for the game. 

“It was a risk putting him on, you’re not sure what way the body will hold up, what he’s going to be like, but we can count on Jack. He did really well when he came on. He just needs to get back to where he left off in the Bohs game, because that’s the level he can hit. 

“Brian McManus is available, he’s a live option now. We had him on the bench against Rovers, but we didn’t want to risk him, especially with the nature of a hamstring injury. We’re really pleased with how Brian has come on. He’s missed a lot of games this season with injury, so we’re hoping he gets a run now, because we know the ability he has.”

Derry are second in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table, six points behind the leaders Shamrock Rovers but with a game in hand. Duff is expecting a tough test away from home: 

“Look you can say the pressure is on them for many reasons, there’s a league title there for them if they can get the results, the race is still open, but I’m not worried about the pressure being off us, it’s not off us at all. 

“People outside can say there’s no pressure on us, but it’s absolutely not the case for us, the one thing we’ve created here is a pressure environment, we’re setting our own standards, we’re not driven by outside or around us, the lads have bought into that, they aren’t allowed to take the pressure off, they need to be at it every game. 

“If people expect us to roll up there, rest players, celebrate that we’re safe, that’s not us. We’re after two things, and it’s every week. Regardless of anything else going on, that has never changed. We’re looking for A) Performance  B) Results.”

The Reds have lost just once in their last six outings in all competitions, and secured hard fought draws with Shamrock Rovers, St Pats and Derry. Assessing the form of his side at present, Duff told ShelbourneFC.ie: “Our form in the league, we’re looking at it, the results are patchy, but performances, I can’t fault. Lads know though and have been told firmly that the league results need to improve and where we want to get to for the remainder of this season, it needs to start now. 

“We’re safe but we still need to address this and find the consistency and match some of those good performances with the results they’ve deserved, but haven’t gotten. The lads know it, the league is our bread and butter and they’ll work hard for the remaining games to improve those results.”

This will be the fourth meeting between the sides this season. Twice the Reds were undone by late goals in this fixture, a ​​Ryan Graydon goal in stoppage time in Tolka back in August saw Derry pick up all three points, while back in March Patrick McEleney scored in the 74th minute to give the Candy Stripes the points.

On their last visit north, the Reds beat Derry City 2-1, and were the first team to win against the title contenders on their home patch this season. Reflecting on the previous meetings this year with Derry, Duff said: “Could argue a lot of positives to be taken from every game we’ve had against them, all been tight games. 

“The one in the Brandywell, it was a great win, and beyond that it was very important because it gave the players belief for the season, belief in themselves, what they were doing, and where they could go. In Tolka, we had two flat performances which was disappointing. If you give a good team an inch, they take it. 

“That’s what Derry did in our place, they’ve all been tight games, and I expect tomorrow to be no different, then all roads lead to Lansdowne Road on November 13. We’re not going up there to be resting players, or trying to be clever, before the final, we want to go up and win the game.”

Shels are 7th in the table at present, six points behind the team currently occupying the place above them. Duff says securing a high a finish as possible is a goal for his team:

“Climbing up the table has been a big motivator for months on end, it’s something we’ve spoken about, each time it comes to the crossroads, when we have had an opportunity to jump up a place, there’s been times we haven’t been able to get the result that would help us kick on.

“Look, we know budget wise, there’s a big difference in some of those teams above us, what they’re operating off, it’s a big ask to make that jump but that’s what we want to do, we want to do and it’s going to give us a drive for the rest of the season.”

Shels will be without Sean Boyd who serves a two game suspension after accumulating 12 yellow cards this season. Jad Hakiki continues to rehab an injury, while Dan Hawkins and Conor Kane remain sidelined with long term injuries.

Posted on 2022-10-202022-10-20

Tickets for the FAI Cup final are on sale now.

Supporters are advised only to purchase tickets for designated Shelbourne sections, and to use the link provided below.

Supporters will be unable to access tickets to these sections on the general sale of the Ticketmaster site or app.

• South Stand – Lower – Blocks 112 to 119
• East Stand – Lower – Blocks 106 to 110
• West Stand Lower – Blocks 120 to 122

You can purchase your ticket here: Shelbourne Supporters Tickets

Posted on 2022-10-182022-10-18

The FAI have confirmed the sections designated for Shelbourne FC supporters for the FAI Cup Final 2022 at Lansdowne Road. 

Shelbourne FC has been allocated the following sections for the Extra.ie FAI Men’s Cup Final 2022:

• South Stand – Lower – Blocks 112 to 119
• East Stand – Lower – Blocks 106 to 110
• West Stand Lower – Blocks 120 to 122

Singing Section

Supporters intending on joining the most vocal members of the Reds faithful are encouraged to purchase tickets for the South Stand – Lower – Blocks 113 to 116.

Tickets will be on sale tomorrow morning, Wednesday, October 19 at 10am via ticketmaster.ie.

Once the link is live for the Shelbourne FC sections, this will be shared on our social media pages.

Posted on 2022-10-152022-10-15

Shelbourne Head Coach Damien Duff is savouring what has the potential to be a special day for the Reds, as his side look to end an 11 year wait to return to the FAI Cup Final.

Duff is under no illusion and knows his side face a massive challenge as they go head to head with in-form Waterford at the RSC in the second of tomorrow’s semi-finals. The curtain raiser for the Reds live TV clash on RTÉ 2 sees Derry City face Treaty United.

In team news, Shane Farrell is hoping to recover from a groin injury that forced him off last week as the Reds suffered an agonising 3-2 loss to Shamrock Rovers.  With the Hoops netting the winner in injury time. 

Jack Moylan returned to training this week, but the attacking midfielder hasn’t featured since the FAI Cup quarter-final over Bohemians, a game in which he scored the opening goal in a 3-0 demolition of our near neighbours.

Brian McManus is a step closer to full fitness after a week of training. A hamstring issue has curtailed the midfielder in recent weeks. Duff will be buoyed by the return to fitness of Mark Coyle, with the midfielder producing a man of the match display in Tallaght.

Of the occasion facing his side, Duff told ShelbourneFC.ie: “I never got to an FA Cup final as a player, so if we were to win tomorrow this would be the pinnacle,  when you are a manager you start learning the game all over again, that’s why it would be the pinnacle, because it’s learning something new.”

Waterford have been in fine form of late, they knocked out the holders St Pats and Dundalk on the road to the last four. Duff feels the Munster outfit are a first division side with premier division quality: “They’re a very dangerous team and have the X Factor up front. If they started better you’d say they might have romped the league, not Cork.”

“There’s an amazingly tough task ahead of us. It’s the second hardest game we could have got, Derry away and then Waterford at home, they’re a very good and dangerous team. 

“You’ll have to play near on the game we played against Bohs in the quarter-finals, which was the perfect game.

“Anyone who watches League of Ireland football will know how tough a tie this is going to be.”

The Reds last appearance in the FAI Cup final was 2011, where they lost to Sligo Rovers on penalties, after a herculean display with 10 men. The Reds haven’t lifted the FAI Cup since 2000, when they defeated Bohemians after a replay, with Pat Fenlon scoring the winner. For Duff, reaching a final would mean a lot:

“I went last year with Quinner. I was emotional watching that. I’d a tear when the national anthem was played. I think I was about to take over. I was picturing myself in it and thinking, ‘Why not?’ To be in a semi-final is surreal. No one remembers the semi-finals. It’s all about getting to the final.”

“The club has gone through difficult times,” Duff added. “A lot has happened in the last 10-15 years. It doesn’t add any pressure to me. It’s a great place to be in, a semi-final of the Cup. The only pressure is that we’re a Premier Division team. Outside of that, go and enjoy it.”

450 tickets have been made available to Shels supporters, Duff though is confident more will make the trip to the RSC: “We’ll have a few more than 450 Shels fans, that’s a fact, at the end of the day, shout as loud as you want, we might not be able to hear, so it’s up to the guys on the pitch.

“The fans have been amazing all year, but its down to the players on the pitch, I trust them, they’re in a really good place and hopefully they can bring us through to maybe a showpiece game at the Aviva Stadium, where we can have a lot more than 450 of our fans there.”

Posted on 2022-10-152022-10-15

By Steven Doody

If you told me in May 2017, after a 4-1 defeat at home to Cabinteely, that the Reds would be back in the Premier Division in 2022, with Damien Duff at the helm, and preparing for an FAI Cup Semi-Final, I would have laughed in your face. Yet here we are.

It’s hard to put a finger on when Shelbourne FC got its soul back. Promotion in 2019 certainly helped, although our stay in the Premier Division only lasted 1 season. I remember joking at the start of the 2021 season that if we got promoted straight back to the Premier Division, it would be as if the 2020 relegation never happened. And it never did.

In November 2021, Damien Duff was named as the new manager. A media frenzy followed, and how could it not. 100 International Caps, 2 Premier Leagues, 2 League Cups, nearly 400 Premier League appearances, and 26 Champions League appearances. The former Chelsea man started to assemble a squad that certainly looked capable of survival, and that box has now been ticked. Some clubs look at the cup as a bonus, but that’s certainly not how the staff and players of Shelbourne have approached it.

Wins over Bray, Bonagee, and Bohemians have taken us this far, with that win over our Dublin rivals being a particular highlight. Duff was surprisingly calm after the Bohs victory, considering there had been a definite bite in the previous fixtures between the clubs.

Duffer had an amazing playing career, that can’t be debated. What also can’t be debated is the relationship that the Republic of Ireland Centurion has formed with Shelbourne supporters. He has described himself this season as “not likeable”, and that might be the very reason why the fans have taken to him so quickly. Shelbourne FC and Damien Duff are a match made in heaven (or hell). No one likes us, as a club, a fanbase, or a team, and that’s just fine with us.

Ollie Byrne paved the way for this club. He brought out every emotion in the League of Ireland faithful, and nobody from outside Tolka Park wanted to get on his wrong side. If you ask me, Damien Duff is doing something very similar.

Ollie Byrne made people angry, he made people fear him, and he certainly divided opinion. Damien Duff has caused quite a storm in his short time with the club. Players giving their jerseys to kids after a match in Dalymount Park was deemed to be an attention seeking exercise. Showing passion after a hard-earned point at home, in which his team went down to 10 men, was deemed to be the Duffer Show.

Deep down everyone wanted an Ollie Byrne. His passion and commitment to his club was never in question. I am convinced that the reason the “League of Ireland Family” have made such a fuss about Duff, is that they would all love to have him, his passion, and his commitment.

Demand for tickets for this game from the Shels fanbase has been off the charts, and that in itself may be an indication of how far the club has come since 2016. Getting 1,000 people to a First Division game was an achievement in itself during those dark years, now over 1,000 people are season ticket holders.

Attendances aside, Shelbourne FC is in a fantastic position off the pitch. The Reds Together initiative has seen the club become more visible in the local community. The club has also recently released a t-shirt, emblazoned with a message to “Mind Yourself, Mind Your Mates, Mind Your Family”. It feels as though people used to support the football team, but now it feels as though we are all supporting the football club.

2016 and 2017 were probably the toughest seasons I can remember. A proposed move to Dalymount Park brought about protests and boycotts from supporters, and matters on the pitch were not much better, to say the least.

Now, there is a feeling of optimism around this great club. There is hope that we can remain in Tolka Park, and there is hope that we can earn ourselves a place in the FAI Cup Final in Lansdowne Road.

C’mon Shels.

Posted on 2022-10-142022-10-14

Shelbourne Football Club is delighted to announce that Shane Griffin has signed a new deal with the club.

The defender has put pen to paper on a contract that will see him remain at Tolka Park for the 2023 season. 

The 28 year-old has been a critical figure at the heart of the Reds defence since joining the club from St Patrick’s Athletic at the end of last season. Griffin has made 26 appearances this season, including 24 starts. 

A proven winner and an imposing defender, the Cork native is one of the most decorated players in the Reds squad at present, having won an SSE Airtricity League title and the FAI Cup on two occasions.

Before his spell with Pats, the Carrigaline man spent three trophy-laden years at Cork City, where he helped the Leesiders to win both league and FAI Cup honours in 2017.

Griffin has been capped for the Republic of Ireland up to U21 level, and began his career at the academy of Reading FC.

A left footed centre half, Griffin has been a consistent and reliable presence at the heart of the Reds defence this season.  

Shane Griffin joins Shane Farrell, Jack Moylan, Gavin Molloy, Jad Hakiki, Brian McManus, JJ Lunney, Kameron Ledwidge, Conor Kane, and Sean Boyd in committing to Shels for the 2023 season. 

Damien Duff, Shelbourne FC Head Coach said: “Shane was a great addition to the squad for the 22’ season and it is the exact same for the 2023 season. After a difficult start due to injury and suspension, Shane settled in brilliantly to the team and is an integral part of what we are doing. On top of his many footballing qualities, he is a winner and has the medals to back it up. That mentality and experience alone will help our young squad.”

Shane Griffin said:“I’m delighted to sign back, the manager and staff have created a great environment here and everything we do is built on hard work, it’s a very enjoyable challenge. We have a really good dressing room here and a group of lads who are very close, this is where I want to be and hopefully we can continue to progress on the pitch.”

Posted on 2022-10-082022-10-08

Shelbourne Head Coach Damien Duff is relishing back to back Dublin Derbies as the Reds make the short trip to Tallaght Stadium to face Shamrock Rovers on Sunday. 

The game comes after the thrilling 4-4 draw with St Pats at Tolka Park last Monday, a game in which Matty Smith scored his first goal for the Reds, JJ Lunney also netted while Sean Boyd took his tally for the season to 9 goals with a brace.

Reflecting on the game, Duff told ShelbourneFC.ie: “It was crazy game, as a manager and a staff we can’t get carried away in the chaos, that’s what the game was. We need to be calm, keep the players focused and that’s what we’re trying to. Difficult in that situation, a crazy game. We look at it as two points dropped for sure. We gave away 4 awful goals. 

“We dissected the goals with the players on Thursday morning, looked at the clips, we’ll take the learnings from it but we have to move on quickly. It’s gone. There’s positives for sure, from an attacking point of view the lads were top class.” 

Duff has no new injury concerns and shared a positive update on Brian McManus and Jack Moylan, who’ve been out of action for a number of weeks, Duff said: “Brian McManus is back in the matchday squad, not sure if it’s too early to risk him or if he’ll get game time, but he’s back and fit and in great form. 

“We won’t know until he’s on pitch if he’s ready though. Jack Moylan is back on the pitch too in training. We’ll monitor him closely, tomorrow will come too soon for Jack, but signs are encouraging now that he’s back on the grass.

The Hoops are top of the table and looking to move a step closer to the SSE Airtricity League title, the last meeting between the sides two weeks ago ended in a 0-0 draw but Duff feels that result will have little relevance for this game: 

“The big learning from it is that they have 3 or 4 gears they can go up again, for all the quality they have, they’re managing a massive load, games are coming thick and fast and you have to factor in the travel for Europe, that’s tough and it definitely can affect recovery, that said we’re expecting a different animal tomorrow,” said Duff.

“We’re not going to get carried away with the point and a decent performance at Tolka Park two weeks ago, tomorrow I expect a reaction from Rovers, we know they can go up a few gears, they’re fighting for a title. It’s a huge game for them.”

In recent weeks JR Wilson has reestablished himself as a key player in the starting XI, having returned to form for the pivotal time of the season. Duff was quick to praise the Ringsend native:

“That’s the JR I want and demand, I spoke to JR many times this season. He’s still a young man, he’s got a young family, a new baby, he had big changes in his life. JR has tried too hard at times this season, tried to force it, maybe gripped the bat too tight, we’ve seen a a marked difference now in recent weeks. He looks relaxed, playing with a joy and a freedom and that’s when people are at their best, that’s probably why he’s flying.”

Rovers have an impressive home record in the SSE Airtricity League, having not lost a game in domestic action at Tallaght Stadium since a May 2021 defeat to Sligo. On the Hoops impressive home record Duff said:

“We were first to do Derry, they were in great form, nobody probably expected us to win up there, the lads won’t lack belief though, no matter who we play. The big thing for me is the team has grown substantially over the last few months.

“Even if you compare where we were at the last time we played Rovers before the summer break, the strides we’ve made, the maturity of the younger players, we are a different animal now too. We’ve grown so much and we’ve made giant strides.”

As the Reds approach the business end of the season, with an FAI Cup semi-final to come and the remaining games in the SSE Airtricity League to be played, Duff reflected on his first year in the dugout as manager:

“I enjoy it, in a strange way. I love the focus it gives me, I genuinely love the dressing room, the staff we have. They’re good guys and I care about them. The biggest thing for me is I go to training every day, every game, with a smile on my face.

“I honestly enjoy going to work everyday. Not everyone can say that in life, I’m very fortunate. I think we’ve proved people wrong too, people outside mainly. I’m sure plenty of them were saying I’d walk, I wouldn’t stick it or down tools.

“I’ve loved the challenge. The big thing is working with people who you can trust, who give it everything. That’s what I’m lucky to be surrounded by. I’m happy with the path we’re on and in particular the growth of what is a very young team.”