Fri 2 Oct 2026, 16:00
Andrew Mills wants Glentoran to reward their supporters’ backing with a third successive league victory when Dungannon Swifts visit the BetMcLean Oval on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
The goalkeeper says the support from the stands has made a difference during a difficult start to the season, with wins over Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers giving the players something to build on.
“At Cliftonville away, the fans were fantastic, and last week too,” said Mills.
“When it’s going well, it’s easy. But when you go through tough times, we’ve still got that support. It’s amazing.”
Mills believes the response over the last two matches has started with the players’ application, giving their football a stronger foundation.
“I think it’s back to basics, really. It’s a given to give 100 per cent every single game and work hard,” he said.
“Man to man, everybody’s done that. The passion’s there.
“We know it hasn’t been an ideal start, but all we can do is look forward and correct it.
“The last two games have been really positive. We’ve played some good football as well, but the biggest thing for me is everyone’s rolling their sleeves up and giving 100 per cent effort. That wins you games.”
That work continues under Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann, whose preparation and insistence on standards have impressed Mills.
The goalkeeper says the players are keen to deliver for the pair as they guide the squad through this period.
“They’ve been professional. They’ve made sure we’ve kept the standards in training,” he said.
“Pre-game and post-game, they’ve given us a lot of information, so it’s helping us.
“It’s good to give them something back too, because I know how much it means to Paddy and Tim. They’re full of passion and want us to do well, so we also want to do well for them.”
Dungannon present the next challenge, with Mills highlighting their quality in possession and the need for Glentoran to carry their recent standards into another demanding fixture.
“They’re a tough team to play against, just like every other game in this league,” he said.
“They’ve got a really nice style of play. They move the ball really well, so we know we’re going to have to be at the top of our game.
“They’ve got some quality players. We know what they’re good at and we’ve worked on it in training this week.
“We’ve got a plan going into the game and we’re excited for it.”
Mills kept a clean sheet in last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Carrick and sees another afternoon at the Oval as an opportunity to give the home support more to celebrate.
“We’re at the Oval, which is a big advantage to us,” he said.
“Just keep up the support. We appreciate it. You stand by us through the good and the bad, and it means a lot.
“We just want to give back now. It’s time for us to repay the fans for what they’ve given us.”
Saturday’s fixture is proudly supported by Haldane Fisher.
For Glentoran fans planning to attend Saturday’s Irish Premiership fixture against Dungannon Swifts at The BetMcLean Oval, match tickets are available to purchase at: https://www.glentoran.com/tickets/home-tickets/
