Glentoran FC is delighted to announce that Calum Birney this week signed an extension to his current contract. That means Calum is now committed to Glentoran until the end of the 2020/2021 season.
Manager Gary Haveron said on securing Calum’s signature: “I’m very very pleased to have concluded this business so early and to have avoided any unwelcome speculation about Calum’s future. With Moko, Curtis, Elliott and now Calum all sorted out we have the spine of our team committed to the club in the long term. That’s vital as while we build the successful Glentoran we all want these guys will all be central to it. Their willingness to show their faith in the future of Glentoran will also help attract the sort of player we want in the next couple of transfer windows,
I didn’t have much opportunity to use Calum last season because of injury and suspension but this season he’s been excellent. He has matured and grown in stature and is showing a lot of pride in his game. He’s becoming more and more of a leader on and off the pitch and is also becoming increasingly influential in training. When we organise sprints or extra routines Calum is now always one of the first to get involved and is always near the front. He’s in a very good place with his football right now.
On top of all of that Calum is an East Belfast lad and a Glentoran supporter. I know his wee boy Theo will be very proud of his Daddy.”
24-year old Calum joined the club from Linfield in summer 2011. He made his first team debut as an 18 year old substitute in a 1-0 home league win over Cliftonville on 18 February 2012. Only Elliott Morris remains from the 13 other players to take the field for Glentoran that day. Following our match at Dungannon on Saturday Calum has made 147 first team appearances, scoring 10 goals. He played a pivotal role in our Irish Cup Final success in 2015 and will want that to be the first of many medals in a long Glentoran career.