Stephen Fallon programme article
Posted : 2nd November 2019
Young central midfielder Stephen Fallon was one of three Linfield players to extend their contracts last week. The 22 year-old agreed a contract which will kick in at the end of this season for a further two years and he told ‘Look at Linfield’ that he had no doubts about putting pen to paper.
“I am delighted to have signed a new contract because I am very happy at Linfield. I want to keep winning and play at the best possible level and I feel that Linfield is the best place to do that. I feel I have developed a lot since I joined Linfield as I found it difficult to adapt to the physicality of the league initially. The manager has been patient and showed a lot of faith in me.”
The former Swansea City man has been an important figure for David Healy’s team this season and has scored two goals. Coming into today’s clash with Carrick Rangers, Linfield are five points off the League leaders with two games in hand. Far from a disastrous position to be in, but Fallon insists the team must still aim for improvement.
“I think we have made a good start to the season with some great results but there is a lot of room for improvement and we know we can do better. Our run in Europe this season was amazing and it was a great experience for all of us. As a squad, we are hoping to build on it and try to be successful in Europe next year. It was a great achievement to win the league last season too and we are all very focused now on trying to retain the title.”
The Blues have already scored an impressive 22 goals in six home League fixtures this season and possess a deadly front line, something which the Under 16, 17 and 19 Northern Ireland international is relishing from the middle of the park.
“It makes my job a lot easier when you’ve got such great attacking players in the team who can win a game at any moment. We are very dangerous going forward and as a midfielder, it is great to play with such great attacking players.”
Fallon - who picked up the Bobby Braithwaite memorial young player of the year trophy last season – finished by highlighting the need to bounce back immediately after last week’s League defeat away to Coleraine.
“I think against Coleraine last week we just didn’t perform as a team. At times this season we have played really well and shown how good we can be but as a team against Coleraine, we know we just weren’t good enough on the day.
“We know that Carrick Rangers will give us a tough challenge, as it was tough when we last played them. They are coming off the back of a few good results, so it is important that we play well, as we want to get back to winning ways after the disappointment of last week.”
The news of the stylish midfielder’s new contract will no doubt be well received by the Linfield faithful who’ll hope to see him continue his fine form throughout the season and beyond. Best wishes to Stephen and the team this afternoon.
By Jamie Megarry