Gorman is desperate for fans and winning run
Glens midfielder admits he’s missing big game Irish League atmosphere
DALE Gorman joined Glentoran at the beginning of September but he’s still nowhere close to experiencing the true Irish League experience.
The Covid-19 pandemic has kept most of the fans away from stadiums and the big game atmospheres are merely memories.
There was no Boxing Day Big Two treat for the supporters, one of the highlights of the season.
And although the matches are allowed to continue as an elite sport, the absence of fans can take some of the players’ competitive edge away.
As one of the best supported clubs in Ireland, Glentoran have missed that influence, both from a financial and sporting perspective. Dale, whose father Tony was a Linfield favourite, admits he’s still waiting for a proper introduction to the Irish League, with fans in full voice.
“Due to the virus, I haven’t been able to taste the big game atmospheres in the Irish League, but hopefully I will some day when everything improves,” said the 24-year-old Letterkenny man.
“Elite sport stopped for a week but clubs could train, so that was confusing to me, but we just have to get through this.
“Especially when you are playing at home, there’s a big crowd and the fans drive you on.
“I can only imagine how passionate the fans will be, you want to play in front of fans like that.”
The pandemic helped open the door for Dale to join Glentoran. He left Leyton Orient after salary caps were introduced in League One and Two.
“A few people might come over from England and think they are going to walk into this league but I have never had that mindset,” said the former Northern Ireland Under-21 international.
“I wanted to get my head down and contribute as much as I can. I want to reach as high a level as I can.
“I’m enjoying the games and going with the flow. There’s no point putting pressure on yourself wondering about your future. Going back across the water is a long-term ambition but my immediate aim is to play the best I can.
“A lot of clubs and players suffered in League One and Two. I needed to move on and I’ll work hard to improve.
“It’s high intensity, in your face football and competitive. It was a bit like that in England but I was expecting that.”
No-one at Glentoran needs told that their Premiership position is not good enough. Ninth spot represents a disappointing start, particularly for such a talented group of players.
Up next is a home cl ash with Portadown this evening (5.30pm), a club which took the Glens to a penalty shootout in last season’s Irish Cup.
“You can say all you want about players and formations but the league table doesn’t lie, and only us can turn it around,” added Dale who spent five years with Stevenage Borough. “We haven’t really went on a consistent run. It can’t be like that. To be challenging for league titles you need to maintain a high level of performance. But you don’t win a league after 10 games, and a few bad results can leave you in trouble. No matter who we are playing, we will approach it the right way and try to win the game.
“Larne have done really well and are a nice footballing team. The table doesn’t lie, no matter how you look at it. If we could go on a winning run we could be a few points behind them, and we have to get other clubs looking at Glentoran like it’s a sleeping giant on the way up here.”
Meanwhile, due to lack of game time, both defender Christopher Crane and midfielder Conal Mcgrandles have been placed on the transfer list by Portadown.