Cushley assures United fans of his commitment to Sky Blues

David Cushley has assured Ballymena United supporters he is 100 per cent committed to the club until the end of the season.
David Cushley celebrates after scoring for Ballymena United in today's Danske Bank Premiership fixture at Coleraine. Picture: Press Eye.David Cushley celebrates after scoring for Ballymena United in today's Danske Bank Premiership fixture at Coleraine. Picture: Press Eye.
David Cushley celebrates after scoring for Ballymena United in today's Danske Bank Premiership fixture at Coleraine. Picture: Press Eye.

The winger will say his farewells to the Showgrounds at the end of the campaign after signing a pre-contract agreement to join champions Crusaders this summer.

Before then, however, Cushley insists there is still plenty of mileage in United’s spluttering season.

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Cushley fired another spectacular strike in the Boxing Day clash at Coleraine but could only watch on as the Bannsiders eventually triumphed 2-1.

“We got ourselves back into the game but we contributed to our own downfall with bad defending again. It’s the sort of thing that has happened too often.

“It’s not for the want of trying in training and we’re working on it every week but I don’t know what it is when we go into games.

“For the goal, I was going to hit it with my left but I cut back and hit it and it got blocked and it fell to my right.

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“I tried to lob the keeper a wee bit. I was pleased with that one with my right foot - it’s normally for standing on!”

Cushley admitted he took his time before deciding that Seaview is where his footballing future will lie next season.

“It was really hard. I sat down with my dad and we discussed what we thought was right for me.

“I thought Crusaders was the right place for me to go at this stage of my career in terms of competing for leagues and Irish Cups.”

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Ballymena fans’ disappointment at Cushley’s decision intensified after photos appeared of the player wearing a Crusaders shirt as he signed his pre-contract form.

“The photographs weren’t meant to happen. I was going over there to sign the pre-contract and I thought the pictures weren’t coming out until the end of the season.

“The photographer rung me afterwards and said he was sorry they came out and I had to apologise to Glenn - it certainly wasn’t a planned thing.

“The fans will always have their opinions and they are entitled to that - all I can do is my part on the field.

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“I had a lot of well wishes and a lot of Ballymena fans asking me to do my best as long as I’m here and that’s what I do every time I go out - I don’t know how to play any other way

“We’re just all going to have to knuckle down because we have a big cup final coming up and the Irish Cup around the corner so there are big games ahead.

“If we can get a run going we could maybe jump a couple of places in the league and maybe get into that seventh place and a European play-off.” added David.