Bratton feels new brigade can clinch promotion

This week Michael Kelly catches up with ex-striker Stuart Bratton and although the big front man isn’t playing now at any level, he still keeps a keen eye on how is old club is getting on.

Bratton, who works in the civil service office in the city, played for the Waterside men during arguably the best years of the club.

With Bratton leading the front-line, ’Stute scaled to the Irish Premiership for the first time in the club’s history. I caught up with the Waterside man to reminisce on his favourite moments as a ’Stute player.

“There were a lot of them to be honest, I think I scored the first goal in the promotion to the First Division, and scored the first goal in the Premiership.

“I had a few hat-tricks as well, but probably I would say scoring two goals the first time we beat Linfield 2-0 at home, and that was our first season in the Premiership.”

Although Bratton, whose left foot was known in the dressing room as ‘The Hammer’, experienced a a lot of highs at the club, he also had a few lows also and unfortunately his career has been hampered by a number of serious injuries.

“After I was released by Institute, I went to Coleraine and had a season with Coleraine but tore the cruciate ligament in my knee and didn’t play football again for two years, then went and played some junior football at a local side, BBOB, and then I suffered another injury and just packed it in altogether, so I’m not playing any football now at all.”

Despite not playing any more, Bratton still follows Paul Kee’s side whenever he can, admitting the club still mean a lot to him.

“I still follow Institute, I definitely look out for the results and that all the time, I’d check the papers and the website and that but I haven’t been to the ground to be honest in four years or something.

“My young family is sort of taking up my time! But I definitely plan to go back, it’s a team that’s very close to my heart.

“Unfortunately I haven’t got out in a brave while, but it’s definitely a ground I’ll be back at, that’s for sure.”

Institute have made a solid start to the season and despite suffering their first league defeat of the campaign, at Ballyclare Comrades on Saturday, they sit second in the Belfast Telegraph Championship One and they remain hopeful that they can win promotion back into the Premiership.

Bratton, whose deadly left foot caused sides a host of problems, gave me his thoughts on the current side.

“They’re really, really good. They seem to be scoring a hell of a lot of goals anyway and getting a lot of good results,” conceded the Drumahoe man.

“They’re well up in the table and in contention for promotion, it’s really good to see. It’s seems like there’s a lot of youngsters, hopefully they’re building for the future.”

Bratton hopes they’re building for the future with the belief that ’Stute could get back to the Premiership.

When Bratton was playing Premiership football with Institute he played at the Riverside Stadium with some quality footballers such as John Quigg, Graeme Philson, Adrian Creane, John McGarvey, Barry Devine, Ryan Coyle and Kyle Maloney to name but a few.

“There was a hell of a lot of them,” he admitted.

“I would say, even though he was in the twilight of his career, Paul Hegarty.

“He was consistently man of the match every game we played, even when he was player-manager he was still man of the match every game!

“He led by example and everybody followed along by him and his commitment was second to none,” concluded the former frontman.

It’s been years since Bratton’s played for Institute but it’s obvious his affection for the club is still there.

He holds a great opinion of the current squad and with the club sitting high in the table, his opinion seems justified.