Ethan Devine programme article
Posted : 15th January 2022
After eye-catching performances in the NIFL Championship this season, Linfield swooped to sign young forward Ethan Devine from Knockbreda.
20 year-old Devine is also formerly of Newington, and Cliftonville for whom he signed following a successful trial in October 2020, but it was a short stint at Solitude as he explains to ‘Look at Linfield’.
“I played under Colin McIlwrath at Knockbreda. He’s a nice guy who helped me. Going there really helped me and stood me in good stead after I’d been overlooked at Cliftonville. Cliftonville had a lot of forwards when I was there last year, and covid hit as well, so it just didn’t work out. A lot of my friends play for Knockbreda, so that’s why I went there and it rejuvenated me again.”
Ethan joined on an 18 month contract on January 3, becoming the Blues’ first signing of the January transfer window and the striker is already enjoying life at Windsor Park.
“I am delighted to have become a Linfield player and glad to get everything sorted. I feel like I am ready for the challenge at Linfield now. It’s been great to get in so early in the window to try and find my feet as early as possible and I’m happy to be here. I’ve only been here a week or two but I’ve settled in very well. All the lads here are helpful and they talk you through everything to help you slot into the environment as smoothly as possible.”
A young hungry forward, Ethan has taken up with a Personal Trainer this season to improve his condition with a view to continued development of his performance on the pitch and the aim for him is first team football.
“Yes, I’ve been working with a Personal Trainer with the intention of getting myself in the best possible shape to hopefully maximise my performance on the pitch, as I am taking football very seriously.
“I came in initially and played for Linfield Swifts to get minutes in the tank but my ambitions are to be playing first team football. Big games in front of big crowds are the most important ones, so they’re the ones you want to play in, and at Linfield you tend to be involved in a lot of those as a first team player, so that’s the aim for me. Yes, I’ll obviously want to be involved against Ballymena, but we’ll see. It’ll be a tough game but we’ll be well prepared for it and hopefully, we can get three points.”
Devine’s Linfield career got off to a fine start as he scored on his first team debut last week. After coming on as a sub in the 69th minute against Oxford Sunnyside in the Irish Cup, the striker scored Linfield’s fourth, in stoppage time as he headed in a free-kick from Kirk Millar at the Railway End and he says it was the perfect start.
“I was buzzing last week to score on my debut, I loved it! I just shut my eyes and hoped for the best when I got my head to it and thankfully, it ended up in the back of the net. It was a great way to get started, especially scoring at Windsor. Hopefully, it will be the first of many.
“Kirk Millar put the free-kick right on my head, so I had to finish it for him! His deliveries are superb and that’s brilliant for a forward. It’s also great and will be very beneficial that the manager was a top striker in his day, so hopefully I can learn from him. What he’s achieved as a manager speaks for itself.”
What can Linfield supporters expect from Ethan?
“I would like to think the fans can expect goals and hopefully, plenty of them! As a striker, that’s what you’re there for and there’s no better feeling. It probably goes without saying but I will give 100% commitment every time I am on the pitch.”
A warm Windsor welcome to Ethan and best wishes for what will hopefully be a successful time ahead at Linfield FC.