New signing Douglas is cannot wait to get started

HE may have been there, done it and bought the T-shirt, but new Coleraine signing Stephen Douglas cannot wait to get started with the Bannsiders.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th October 2011 -
Carling premier league match between Coleraine and Linfield at Ballycaste rd.
Coleraines and Linfields
Mandatory credit:Picture by Stephen Hamilton/ Presseye.comPress Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th October 2011 -
Carling premier league match between Coleraine and Linfield at Ballycaste rd.
Coleraines and Linfields
Mandatory credit:Picture by Stephen Hamilton/ Presseye.com
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th October 2011 - Carling premier league match between Coleraine and Linfield at Ballycaste rd. Coleraines and Linfields Mandatory credit:Picture by Stephen Hamilton/ Presseye.com

The 35-year-old spent a trophy-laden decade with Linfield before arriving at The Showgrounds last week but his appetite certainly hasn’t waned and he is already counting down the days until pre-season begins in earnest.

“Sometimes you can’t wait for a season to end but usually within a couple of weeks you’re looking to get started again,” said the defender.

“It’s amazing how quickly you miss it and I’m especially looking forward to it because I’m with a new club, which is always exciting for a player.”

Like everyone at the club Douglas has been boosted by the news Stephen Lowry and Howard Beverland are staying.

“As I say I was already looking forward to the new season but this news has just proved what a good decision it was to come here,” he said.

Coleraine have been making good progress over the last few seasons but they have ambitions to do even better.

“Oran wants to push on and win things and I know he’ll be looking to win the league because that’s the type of person he is.

“It might take a few years but you have to aim high otherwise you might as well give up.”

Douglas has signed a one-year deal at The Showgrounds and Oran Kearney believes his former team mate still has a lot to offer.

“In all the time I’ve been at Coleraine, I think this is the first time I’ve signed someone over the age of 30,” said Kearney.

“With Kyle McVey moving on we need someone else to bring up the numbers at centre half again and I wanted to bring in someone with a bit of experience. Steven has seen it all in the Irish League, he spent ten seasons at Linfield and won everything he could win in the local game.”