Veteran Jamie Mulgrew still trying to silence doubters

EVERGREEN Linfield skipper Jamie Mulgrew has enjoyed a trophy-laden career and had a taste of international football, but he will still go into today’s Irish Cup final against Cliftonville with a point to prove.

“People still say I’m a crap player and I’m out to prove them wrong,” said the 37-year-old, who already has seven Irish Cup medals in his collection.

The Bangor man has also won nine league titles, three League Cups and three Co Antrim Shields across 19 years and 758 appearances for the Blues.

The bad news for Cliftonville fans is that Mulgrew wants more success in his twilight years with the south Belfast club, starting with this afternoon’s showpiece, and he laughs at critics saying he can’t go one forever.

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“I suppose in my position, you’re trying to put off the inevitable,” he said.

“You try and prolong your career as long as possible, and that’s all down to putting the work in, the effort in, and also having the right mentality.

“Look, no matter what age you are, people will write you off and say things.

“You might have a couple of mediocre games and they might think ‘he’s not a good player’ or whatever, that’s part of the industry that we are in so it’s important that you have the mentality to prove people wrong.

“At the end of the day, in football that’s what you’re constantly trying to do, prove people wrong because I think we all know football is about opinions and people still think I’m a crap footballer, that’s the way it is, you’re not going to change that.

“People might think David Healy is a crap manager and shouldn’t be at the football club, that’s part and parcel of the industry we are involved in and you just have to keep working hard and have a strong mentality to perform and prove people wrong.”

And despite his advancing years in footballing terms, Mulgrew is still enjoying being part of a successful dressing room.

“I enjoy the challenge of being successful and winning trophies and medals, I think that’s the main goal and the excitement for me,” he said.

“I enjoy the changing room that we have, I feel we have a good changing room, a good bunch of boys there, a good mix, so it’s enjoyable to come in every day.

“Working your socks off every day is something that I like, it might sound strange but I do.

“I enjoy coming off the training pitch knowing I’ve worked hard.”

Experience oozes from Mulgrew’s pores so younger Linfield players will look to his leadership in the middle of the park against a very dangerous Cliftonville team and he is taking everything in his stride.

“I don’t think there is anything to be overawed about, I think I will just do what I always do, enjoy and embrace the challenge,” he said.

“Going out in front of 15,000 people, what’s not to look forward to?

“That’s certainly what spurs me on and gives me the drive to go and win another trophy for the club, another medal, and that’s something I don’t get sick of.”