WATCH:'What Coleraine did last year was magnificent' : Glenavon striker drawing inspiration from Bannsiders
Andrew Mitchell says attack-minded Lurgan Blues targeting silverware
Last updated 16th Aug 2018
Glenavon striker Andrew Mitchell has revealed that Coleraine’s success last season had been an inspiration for their own ambitious plans this year.
Speaking on our latest BetMcLean Football show on Cool FM’s Facebook page (now available to view, click link below), the 24-year-old said the Lurgan Blues were determined to put behind them the disappointment of 2017-18 by landing some major silverware in this campaign.
He said: “What Coleraine achieved last year was magnificent – winning the Irish Cup I think highlighted that for them
“It’s definitely our goal that we want to progress and I think the Irish Cup is something we need to target.
“We let ourselves down badly last year going out to Loughgall so we will be looking to really progress.”
Mitchell who bagged a double in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Warrenpoint, believes Gary Hamilton’s side will cause a few surprises this season.
And he said it was rewarding playing in such an attack-minded team.
“It was a first start for Stephen Donnelly up front as well – he’s come in from the amateur league down south and I thought he was brilliant as well. He deservedly got his goal for his work on Saturday
“So it is really enjoyable playing in the Glenavon side because you have that much attacking flair.”
Also guesting on this week’s show is the legend that is Paul Leeman, now part of the Ronnie McFall’s back-room team at Glentoran.
He explains how the new management system works at the Oval.
“"Obviously Ronnie McFall's still the manager,” he said.
“Gary Smyth and myself have to complete our FA licences, and we've done the first part of that this year, and we'll finish the next part next year.
“But Ronnie is still very much the manager, Gary will be assistant manager, and then there's myself and Kieran Harding who are very hands on with the coaching,” he said.
"So far, it's been good. Personally, it's going to be a learning year. It's my first role in senior football coaching and management, whereas Ronnie and Kieran have been involved for a lifetime, and Gary had five years with the Welders, and he did a tremendous job there."