Institute: Deery wants to make Riverside Stadium a hard place to come to

Kevin Deery (right) and his assistant Paddy McLaughlin, know they have a tough start at H&W Welders next month.

Kevin Deery’s first home game of the season takes place on Saturday, August 15, when Annagh United visit the Riverside Stadium (KO 3pm).

The Drumahoe men’s opening fixture of 2016 sees them travel to Lurgan Celtic, on Saturday, January 2, 2016 (KO 2pm).

The minute the fixtures were released Deery spoke to his number two Paddy McLaughlin, to find out the way of the land.

“As soon as me and Paddy spoke we talked about tricky fixtures and away to the Welders was top of his list,” stated Deery.

“But now that the fixtures are out there’s an extra spring in everyone’s step and that game at the Welders is what all our pre-season training is now geared for.

“Any football club, at any level you have to be the dominant team at home, now that’s easy to say, but we have to go out and prove that this season.

“The mentality is key this season and especially at home, but we will be going into every game looking to win and every three points is as important as each other and that’s what I’m going to try and install into the players.

“Yes while we want to do well at home, I want the players to go into every game looking for the three points, yes definitely for the local supporters we want to make the Riverside Stadium a really difficult venue.”

The Waterside out-fit travel to Tillysburn Park on the opening day looking to finally end last season’s terrible run of form.

Stute went 25 league games without a victory but Deery doesn’t believe that will effect his team this campaign.

“It’s a clean sleet for everyone at the club and last season is a thing of the past,” he added.

“A lot of the personnel who played in the Premiership last year have left the club.

“There’s a lot of new characters who are going to come into the team.

“I think the order of the day going into the first game is freshness, I want the team to have a fresh new approach to games and to be honest I can’t see last season’s form being an issue.”

For a full list of Institute’s Championship One 2015/16 league fixtures visit Sentinel Sport website.