We can rock Bannsiders, says Stewart
FORMER Linfield and Shamrock Rovers title winner Tommy Stewart is relishing the opportunity to play a big role in the Larne revolution and can’t wait to take on Coleraine in tomorrow’s Irish Cup semi-final.
With the financial backing of Purplebricks multi-millionaire Kenny Bruce, the Championship outfit have become one of the stories of the season, and when forward Stewart joined the Inver Park side in January it was one of the signings of the campaign.
Stewart had several top-flight clubs interested in him after he left Dundalk last year, but it was the ambitious Larne project that won out in the end.
“I’d spoken with a few teams,” said the classy 31-year-old. “I got a phone call to meet Kenny Bruce. I met him in Belfast and he showed me his plan and project. He means business and it’s good to be a part of it.”
Stewart is not the only well known figure at Larne with ex-Cliftonville players Davy McDaid and Martin Donnelly among other surprise signings, leading to suggestions players were only moving for the money.
Asked about that view on Cool FM’s BetMcLean Football Show, Stewart said: “I think it’s a bit shallow. The money comes into it like any job, but I’ve been a fulltime footballer my whole career. Money comes with it, though that is not the driving factor.
“I have won things in different places and my big challenge now is to win something with Larne. There’s pressure there but I’ll take that pressure and hopefully we can do that.
“We want to give a good account of ourselves in the semi-final but we are massive underdogs against Coleraine. They have been great this season but we’ll give it a good shot. We have a lot of experienced players and believe we can hurt them.”