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250 Club: John Devine

Wed, 29/04/2020 - 00:56

With everyone away from the Oval for an undetermined period, we have decided to bring Glentoran supporters some of the most compelling content from the multi award winning Glentoran Gazette. We hope you will enjoy the stories and player interviews we bring and that it will encourage you to buy a Gazette at our home matches when football returns. Many thanks to the Glentoran Supporters Committee (1923) for use of this material. The third of our three series,  "250 Club" series will consist of interviews with current squad members with Eddy Patrick this season.

John Devine

468 appearances, 35 goals

Played 1987-1999

 

You made 468 appearances for the Glens.  What big personal moments stand out for you in that time?
I had many great memories at Glentoran and enjoyed quite a bit of success.  Playing for Northern Ireland, scoring against Coleraine when we won the double, captaining the club to so many trophies and winning the double player of the year would be my stand out memories.

Do you wish you had clocked up more appearances in a Glens’ shirt?
I would loved to have been a one club man but unfortunately I was unable to agree a new contract back in 1999.  Having won so much in my last year at the club I thought the club should have done more to keep me but I had a fantastic time there and loved every minute.

Do you get to come back to watch many matches at The Oval now and how does it feel?
I don’t get to too many games as I watch my son Matthew playing for Larne Tech Old Boys. I was invited to the Larne match last and it was great to meet up with a lot of good friends.

If you could go back in time which match would you love to play in again to relive the enjoyment and what match would you like to go back to and change the result?
If I was to relive one match I suppose it would be the Coleraine match when we won the double.  The club hadn’t won the league for quite a few years and to see so many supporters at the match that day was fantastic. If I was to change a result I would say that the quarter final of the Irish cup against Cliftonville in my last season.  I think we won a lot of trophies that season and were by far the best team in the league and possibly should have won everything that year.

Favourite goal and why?
Again my goal at Coleraine for obvious reasons I think.

 


What does the club mean to you?
The club means a lot to me as it was my first club and I spent nearly 13 years there.  The supporters were always brilliant to me and for that I will always be grateful.

You played in a few Glentoran teams.  What era was the best team from?
I would say personally that the double side of 87-88  was the best I played in; players such as Cleary, Caskey, Moore, Stewart, Morrison, Macartney and Mullan. Great men and great players.

What player did you not look forward to playing against?
I wouldn’t say I didn’t look forward to playing against anyone.  I enjoyed the challenge against the league’s top strikers; Arkins, Ferguson, Baxter, Haylock, all top players.

Are you still involved with football in any way nowadays?
I am not involved in football now as a lot of my time on a Saturday is spent watching my son, but I will make a point of getting to more matches at the Oval.