Danny Lafferty keen to succeed with Institute

Danny Lafferty believes that Institute is the perfect club for him at this stage of his career.

The 33-year-old had football fans across the city talking yesterday when it was confirmed he had signed for Kevin Deery and goes immediately into the squad which travels to Ards this weekend.

Lafferty has a wealth of experience, having played for English sides Sheffield United and Burnley to name a few as well as won leagues with both Derry City and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland.

It is a real coup for Deery and ‘Stute, and Lafferty admits the move made sense.

“It’s perfect for me personally,” he said. “It’s local, they are players and staff that I’m familiar with and it’s a club we all know. It’s back home, there is no travelling long distances, so it suits me perfectly. I don’t see it as much of a surprise, but everyone else is telling me it is.”

Lafferty arrives at a good time, with ‘Stute currently top of the NIFL Championship and pushing hard for promotion.

“That was wee exciting things like that which got me going,” he admitted. “It’s gathered a wee bit of momentum now, even around the city, being successful. They are sitting top of the table at the minute, so to go and hopefully be a part of something and hopefully add something there, that’s a wee bit of a driving factor for me and I’m just looking forward to getting going.”

Deery has spoken often about the inexperience in his squad, and the addition of Lafferty will no doubt have its benefits both on and off the field.

“The conversations we have had have been around that,” Lafferty acknowledged. “Without blowing my own trumpet, I have a good CV and they have signed a lot of young players this year and they have done excellently so if I help in any way develop those young players and help them along the way with any issues on the pitch, then I’ll be more than happy to assist with that, and hopefully that’s the case.”

Ambitious

Despite having a tremendous career in the game, Lafferty remains ambitious and he is keen to play a part in his new club getting back to the Irish Premier Division.

“We’re all Derry folk here, maybe some call it Londonderry, but to have a team from Derry back in the Premier Division, with the people they have in charge and the players they have at the club, I think the club will be in its strongest position that it’s ever been in. Hopefully we go up, and if they do, hopefully they have a real, solid chance at staying up and build something and build the stature of the football club.

“It’s a club that’s going in the right direction and I’m looking forward to being a part of it. I’m still ambitious, and everywhere I’ve been I’ve been successful so hopefully I can add to that and bring success to the football club now.”

A new team represents a new challenge for Lafferty, and be it Ards in the league this week, or Ards in the Irish Cup next week, he can’t wait to get started.

“It’s different in the sense that I’ve never played in the Irish League,” he continued. “I’ve spent most of my career on over here in the League of Ireland. The First Division in the League of Ireland compared to the Premier Division is a big difference and I can imagine it will be similar in this aspect; there’s probably a lot of battling, fighting, winning your individual battles.

“From speaking to Kevin and Mo they are trying to add quality, which they have already so far, to add to the players they signed at the start of the year. They have that quality, and that’s what’s got them into that position they’re in. They have nurtured some good talent there – they have just sold Oisin Devlin to Larne. They gave him the platform to do that so if I can help in whatever way possible and we are successful come the end of the season, then everyone’s a winner.”