Captain’s Message

COLERAINE captain Stephen O’Donnell has penned an end of season message following the conclusion of the 2020/21 campaign…

At the end of a crazy season, full of highs and lows, I think it’s important to look back and appreciate the journey we’ve been on as a group and as a club. Before we break, we will recharge the batteries and look forward to going again next year.

Looking back on our season, there has been so many ups and downs. So many times we have been written off and then built back up again as world beaters, only to be written off again. But that suits us down to the ground. That suits our mentality as a group and as a club. We try and do our talking on the pitch. We don’t get too carried away when we win and there is never any crisis or disasters when things aren’t going our way. We try not to make too much noise until something has actually been achieved.

Looking back to when the season started this time last year, Europe was such an unbelievable experience and achievement and something that will live with us as players for a long time. Getting past La Florita was a great achievement and then going out and doing battle against Maribor was incredible. We weren’t supposed to turn up and give them a game, we weren’t supposed to score and we certainly weren’t supposed to win. However, that is what can happen in football when you have a group like ours, a manager like ours and a club like ours. We never know when we’re beat. We had a gameplan that the gaffer had worked out and he had 18 players willing to run through brick walls for him to carry out those instructions. Yes, we got some luck along the way, but our performance that night as a group was outstanding, and I think we got what we deserved that night. A famous night for the club that will live long in the memory.

I think the performance against Motherwell was just as impressive. They battered us for the first 20 minutes but I think once we got to grips with the game and put it up to them, we looked a real threat and were unfortunate not to win the game in extra time. The penalty shootout was disappointing after the belief we had coming through the Maribor shoot out but Trevor Carson made three brilliant saves and we had no complaints. We threw everything at it and just came up short but it was another amazing experience. A great performance and something that most certainly whet the appetite to get back there this season. As a group we really wanted to make sure we got back to that European stage this summer to see where it could take us and what we could achieve again.

After the highs of Europe and the adrenaline and the buzz surrounding the games and the lights and the attention, it was difficult for us a group to come back down to earth in preseason. We had gone from playing Maribor under the lights in Europe, to playing friendlies against local sides with no fans and no buzz. The gaffer done everything he could to shake us up throughout preseason and probably seen a dip coming. It was something we as a group didn’t do intentionally, but we struggled to find our rhythm in the early part of the season, which probably explains a few patchy results. We lost a few games by the odd goal that we should have drawn or won. But again, as a group we looked at ourselves and came up with answers to solve the problem. There were no big dramas, no fallings out, just a desire to improve and do better, especially after that defeat away at Dungannon. The following week we went and beat Warrenpoint at home with a last-minute winner. From then, we never looked back.

Our form then throughout the middle part and end of the season was fantastic. That really helped us get through the volume of games. Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday is a difficult schedule and tough on the body. Winning games definitely made them weeks easier. The club managed us so well and throughout this season we have been so well looked after and given a real platform to go and perform week after week. It has been difficult as a group of part time players. We have players getting home from night games at 12.30am and then getting up for a 12-hour shift at 6.00am. That’s where the full-time teams have the advantage, rest and recovery. However, we never made too much fuss about it and got on with our job week after week, game after game and picked up some great results along the way.

Our performances and finish in the league are things we can be extremely proud of. We pushed as hard as we could to be involved in a title race but lost out in a few key moments where we couldn’t nick a winning goal or couldn’t get over the line. That is disappointing for us as a group. Cliftonville away and Linfield away at the end of March and start of May were two games we should have managed and performed better in. We managed to claw our way back into the race late on, but unfortunately for us it wasn’t to be. That has disappointed us a group. We haven’t scored enough goals. Not our strikers, but us as a group. We have a collective responsibility to score goals and I don’t think there are enough of us who can say we contributed to that enough, defenders included. I feel that’s maybe where we missed out this season and is definitely something we can improve on together.

There have been a number of standout performers in our season this year – none more so than Stevie Lowry. There have been times this year when he has dragged us through games and got performances and results from himself and everyone around him. A fantastic player and for my money, unlucky to lose out to Shayne Lavery in the end of season awards. Stevie is brilliant around the dressing room, a real top fella, looks after himself so well and is a real example to all the players in our squad. Congratulations on a brilliant season Stevie, you were outstanding. I think it’s also important to mention Marty Gallagher and Gareth Deane who both had a real impact on our season. Deansey started the season so well and has been a great signing and was unlucky to get injured. Marty stepped in after Gareth’s injury and he has been brilliant in the run in, hasn’t put a foot wrong and has made some unbelievable saves along the way.

Having the fans back in The Showgrounds for that last game against Linfield was brilliant. The noise and the buzz is something we’ve really missed as players and is something that we’re really looking forward to for next season. The buzz down at the Railway End when chasing a goal in the last ten minutes was brilliant against Linfield. That’s the buzz we want as players and something that we can’t wait to have week after week, hopefully next season. Another buzz for next season is the new 4G pitch. I think it’s something that we as players are really looking forward to. Yes, a good grass pitch will always trump a good 4G, but sometimes for us that is not possible. Weather, location, conditions etc. it’s not feasible for us to have a pristine grass pitch all year every year. Therefore, the next best alternative is a top class 4G pitch that will allow us to move the ball quickly and not worry about that bobble before your first touch, although I know a few boys who will still struggle. I think it’s a brilliant investment from the club and something that will see huge benefits moving forward. It will allow our club to be the hub of everything we do, and that can only be a good thing.

The noise and the buzz is something we’ve really missed as players and is something that we’re really looking forward to for next season.

Finally, I think it’s only right that we pay tribute to my big mate Steven Douglas. Dougie is retiring this season, I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that, but this time it seems to be for real. He has had an absolutely outstanding career. One that I can’t see being replicated any time soon. His trophy haul is phenomenal and he only thing more impressive is the person he is. Dougie is a real character and a real gem of a person. He treats everyone the same, has time for everyone and is always in the middle of all the craic. He has been brilliant with me from the minute I joined the club and I couldn’t have asked for anymore. He has always been on hand with advice and ready to pass on that knowledge and experience every time he could. His understanding of the game and his ability to still churn out top performances at 43 is testament to him and the level of player he was. I am delighted that I got the opportunity to share a changing room with him, to play beside him and call him my mate. Congratulations on an outstanding career big man, at least now football won’t get in the way of your drinking.

From all of us players at Coleraine, thank you for all your support this season. It’s been eventful to say the least, but we have been privileged and loved every minute of being able to play football during difficult times. European football and a new pitch to look forward to, here is hoping we see you all back at The Showgrounds in full voice next season.

C’mon the Bannsiders,

Stephen O’Donnell