Mayor’s reception for ’Stute tonight

The Drumahoe club, who clinched the title on the last day of the season a few weeks ago, are now looking forward to welcoming the big boys to the Riverside Stadium next season.

For boss Paul Kee he believes this evening’s event is great for everyone connected with the Waterside club.

Kee was also quick to remark that tonight’s reception is also for the people behind the scenes at the Riverside Stadium, he also gave a special mention to the main sponsor Billy Henderson, who has stood by the club for the last number of years.

“Night’s like tonight is a pat on the back from the city for everyone at the club,” stated Kee.

“The most important thing is the community, which is attached to any football club because they all feel a part of it and that’s what we tried to do all season, so tonight is a nice reward for players, staff, committee members and the sponsors.

“Someone like Billy Henderson who has stuck by the club the last couple of years when we went down, tonight’s mayor’s reception is also for him and I’m pleased that the likes of Billy is going this evening.”

The Drumahoe man, who is hoping to speak to a number of his players in the coming weeks, is excited at pitting his wits against the likes Tommy Breslin, Ronnie McFall, Warren Feeney, Gary Hamilton and Glenn Ferguson

“Anyone that knows getting out of the Championship One is very difficult so the amount of effort and commitment given by everyone was super.

“The players gave a lot this year and so has the staff, so to win the league and get promoted was fantastic and I think it’s well rewarded.

“Plus the fact that it brings an extra interest back to the city, with the big teams coming back like Linfield, Cliftonville, Glentoran, Portadown and Glenavon, so it’s good for the city.”

After the mayor’s reception the club are running a presentation night in Badgers from 9pm.

There will be a Supporters Player of the Year award presented and voting can be done on ’Stute’s Facebook page.

The title success hasn’t only been connected with the first team, as Colin Colhoun’s Institute Colts side clinched the Northern Ireland Football League Youth League B recently and kept their winning run going on Saturday with a super 6-1 win over St Oliver Plunkett’s, with Shay Duffy (2), Aaron Porter, Tom Carlin and Kealan Mulcahy (2) all scoring.

Meanwhile former Institute starlet Aaron McEneff came off the bench for Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night to play the majority of the second half in Ledley King’s testimonial.

McEneff, who recently signed a one year professional contract with the White Hart Lane club, came up against Spurs greats such as Teddy Sheringham, Dimitar Berbatov and David Ginola, while the talented midfielder played alongside the likes of Christian Eriksen and Lewis Holtby in the Spurs side.

After the game the former Maiden City Academy man tweeted: ‘Unreal experience and really privileged to have been part of Ledley King’s testimonial! Absolute legend’.