Jim Magilton has simple message for his Cliftonville players as he reflects on his own playing career

Yahoo

12-05-2025

Jim Magilton had a simple message for his Cliftonville players after they secured European football for the second year in a row under his leadership.
Despite the challenges the Reds have faced this season they finish on a high with qualification to the UEFA Conference League qualifiers secured following their 2-0 play-off win over Coleraine on Sunday to add to the BetMcLean Cup they won earlier in the season.
Magilton wants his young charges to embrace playing on the continent again as he did despite it coming late on in his playing career.
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'I didn't play in Europe until I played in the Uefa Cup for Ipswich when I was around 30 and I cherished every second of it,' said the Reds boss.
'I want these lads to cherish every second of it because they so deserved it. They have been in for 10-and-a-half months and it's a long season. They got their just rewards at the end. We were really good, took our chances and it is huge credit to the team.'
After ending their long wait for Irish Cup glory last season Cliftonville have had to deal with a lot of challenges this campaign, none more so than the death of Michael Newberry.
Magilton was full of praise for his players with how they dealt with everything this season and still produced the goods on the pitch when it mattered.
'It's still probably too soon for reflection,' said Magilton. 'But you go into a season ready and then wallop, you get hit with the devastation around Michael and we had to regroup and get the players back on side and focused.
'People don't really discuss the League Cup Final. We came up against a buoyant Glentoran team but managed to win it.
'We got to a second consecutive Irish Cup Final and lose it on penalties, then we go into the Play-Offs. I make that three Finals in a season and we have won two. We are greedy, we wanted three but it is just magnificent.
"Our supporters have come out in their big numbers, and they are so passionate about this club. It is just a magnificent achievement.
'It takes courage to come back from losing a Final. You have to dig really deep to win at Glentoran and then come here where there is massive expectations on both clubs.
'Finals are about winning, and they can go either way. You can play poorly and win it. I wasn't too disheartened; I was very determined. I didn't like the negativity and we galvanised everyone.
'We said 'right, let's go again' and I knew they had it in them to do that. I'm just overwhelmed by it all. I was really emotional after the game because they deserved it."
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