Ballinamallard Manager, Whitey Anderson
Danske Banke Premiership preview
Ballinamallard United will take on a new look this season in the Premiership.
And manager Whitey Anderson is hoping this re-built will shoot the Ferney Park side up the Danske Bank Premier League this season.
The boys from Fermanagh set the place alight in their first season, earning plaudits right around football, but they were struck with second season syndrome last time out and really suffered.
But their primary aim was always to stay in the Premiership and Anderson believes this third season, they can really push forward.
Throughout last season they lacked goals, but this time out they have former Leeds United and Sligo Rovers striker Anthony Elding to spearhead their attack and the much talented former Strabane player Johnny Lafferty in the middle of the park.
“I’m excited to taste third season syndrome,” quirked Anderson. “I know the players are too. They have been extremely hungry since coming back to pre season and know it has to be much better than last year. They have come back in very good condition with high fitness levels.”
He believes he has a good squad which will compete with the best in the Premiership.
Anderson has brought in seven fresh faces since January.
Left back Danny Keohane has gone to be replaced by Jake Dykes from Sligo and with Leon Carters back in the centre of the Ballinamallard defence along with captain Mark Stafford, things should be much tighter.
Add Elding, Lafferty and Raymond Foy on loan from Derry City and you can see why Anderson is so enthusiastic about the coming season.
Foy is already scoring goals for fun in the pre season build up.
With right back Liam McMenamin an addition, he gradually won his place on the right flank by the end of the season.
“I believe our backline will be much tighter this time out. We conceded too many soft goals last season, but we lost a lot of games by a single goal. We had to address that and if we can keep everyone fit then I think it will work fine,” said the Ferney manager.
Anderson takes a lot from the final games of last season when began scoring goals again.
“I think this season we will be a bigger threat going forward and you will see that early on,” he added.
Ballinamallard’s game with Loughall was rained off on Saturday, but this week take in Killen Rangers to keep the momentum going.
“I’m very much happy with the way things are going now. Pre-season is always difficult and there is a lot of work, but I’m a lot more content in what we have now and realise the damage we can do to teams,” he said.
Although Elding missed the first two weeks of pre-season through a family bereavement, but since arriving at Ferney has impressed manager and players alike.
“He’s a real pro,” says a delighted Anderson. “He’s always first at training and last to leave. Already he has made his presence felt with the boys in the changing room and he will continue that out on the park when we kick off on Saturday.”
He’s suitably impressed by the other new boy Foy also, scoring three from three from midfield.
Now with James McKenna back on board after a year out with injury Ballinamallard look to be really strong in that middle of the park area.
But they have a tough start to the season with three away games on the trot. That’s added to all their pre season games being away from home because Ferney Park wasn’t ready.
“It’s disappointing that the pitch wasn’t ready, but I’m just glad that everything is in place for the opening game.
“We’re all looking forward at Ferney and particularly our first home game against Glentoran .We’ve really appreciated the support over the past two years and hope those people will come out again to see the new look us.
“It’s a new look side, with new ideas and a new mentality which, I feel will stand to us well in the next nine months,” he said.