I’M BRAID FOR UNITED NOW

BALLYMENA UNITED boss David Jeffrey won’t let past loyalties blind him when he locks horns with Linfield in tomorrow’s Betmclean League Cup final at Windsor Park. Jeffrey, left, won nine league titles, seven Irish Cups and a raft of other trophies during an illustrious 17 year spell as Blues boss before stepping down in 2014. But asked if taking on his old club at a former haunting ground gifts this year’s showpiece an added dimension, the veteran boss said: “Absolutely not. “People might think that strange and there might those who don’t believe me, but it’s true. It just happens to be Linfield in this final and it won’t come into my thinking at all. “I do remember as a young boy going down the Gransha Road to support Linfield and I could relay you countless stories of those times. “I can recall an Irish Cup tie at Ards when the Blues won six and we were all charging onto the pitch at the end of the game. “I have many happy memories as a supporter, player and manager at Linfield, but the reality is Bryan Mclaughlin and I now serve Ballymena United. “Our passion now is to do our very best for this club and help it grow and be successful. That’s where my full focus lies now.” While Jeffrey, now 56, has been to countless finals as a manager, he still gets a “buzz” stepping out for showpiece occasions. “Probably more so,” he said. “Winning my first finals as a manager at Linfield were fantastic, but the older you get the greater appreciation you have of these occasions.”