The latest player to commit to a longer stay at Glentoran is our exciting young forward, Ben Cushnie, who has signed a new 2-year contract and will remain with the club at least until the end of the 2022-23 season.
Ben – in common with Willie Garrett, Mal Smith, James McCarthy, Aaron Wightman and Paul McLaughlin of the current squad – has graduated from the very early stages of the Glentoran Academy to secure a place in the first team squad. He joined the Glens from Lisburn Youth in January 2013 and – apart from a loan spell at Ards in 2019-20 season cut short by Covid-19 – has been at the Oval ever since. Despite a season with little opportunity to gain match fitness, he got a first start in the season closer with Crusaders at the Oval, scoring and easily winning a landslide Man of the Match vote for his exciting, all action performance up front.
www.glentoran.com asked Ben about his time at Glentoran so far: “I came here when I was 11, half way through the Under 12 season, so I’m here for nearly nine years. I’ve loved it the whole time I’ve been here. I worked my way right through the Academy and got my first professional contract two years ago. This was a difficult season for everyone with Covid and lack of game time has been hard. But I just kept my head down, trained hard and was determined that when I got my chance I’d take it. I think I did that when I got a start against Crusaders. I’m buzzing to have been asked back for another two years, so I’ll just keep working hard and hope for more chances. It’s a great time to be at Glentoran.”
Mick McDermott: “It’s been very difficult for lads like Ben with no Seconds games to keep them sharp, But I always hoped to be able to give Ben his chance before the season ended and I was delighted with his overall performance and his goal against Crusaders. Ben has a lot of potential and we’re looking forward to seeing him fulfil it over the next couple of seasons.”
Ben Cushnie, he’s STILL one of our own.
Keep an eye here and on our social media platforms over the next few days for more contract information.
