'I love this town, I love the people': Gary Haveron insists Larne were 'underestimated' after sealing Irish League title

It was a tumultuous start to the current campaign for the Inver Reds as Kenny Bruce sold his ownership stake to Redball Global before Nathan Rooney departed the club after just one Premiership match, but Haveron provided a calming presence in the dugout.

Haveron, who was appointed manager on a permanent basis in October, was part of Tiernan Lynch’s backroom staff as Larne created history by winning consecutive Gibson Cup crowns in 2023 and 2024, but is now a title-winning boss in his own right.

Larne set the pace for a large majority of this season with an 18-match unbeaten run between October and February laying the platform.

Born in Larne and still living in the town, Haveron has developed a deep connection with those who take their spot on the Inver Park terraces on a weekly basis, understanding how much it means.

Larne sealed a third league title across the past four seasons in emphatic fashion, thrashing Dungannon Swifts 8-0, and Haveron praised the wider collective effort.

"One of the things that people were talking about, the demise of Larne Football Club,” he said. “I've mentioned that a couple of times but they underestimated what we have as a group, as a club, as a community.

"They underestimated us, we went under the radar a little bit I think in the first half of the season but when we went on that 18-game unbeaten run, I think that's what catapulted us to the front and we just stayed there.

"I love this town, I love the people, I'm so lucky I've got so many family and friends here today to be part of it.

"The support I've had all season has been exceptional. We reset now though, it goes back to zero.

"We'll enjoy tonight and obviously the next few days but we reset...everybody's back to zero now and we start all over again.

"I know football, one minute you're up there, next minute you're nowhere. That's just part of the job but we'll enjoy it for what it is now.”

Having collected three Premiership titles and created history by qualifying for the Conference League, Larne are enjoying a dominant spell in the Irish League.

However, Haveron isn’t content on settling for what they have and is insisting the club continue striving for even more.

"Three league titles, European qualification for the group stages and a second place finish in four years, I think that's quite a dominant spell, but it's only four years,” he added. “We've got a lot of history to write at this football club and I'm so respectful of the history of all our clubs and what they've achieved.

"The Linfield’s of this world, it's a benchmark. We strive and we might never ever get there, but while we continue to be here, we'll continue to try and close the gap as best we possibly can, one title at a time.

"I just couldn't be prouder of the people, they came out and supported us magnificently today and them boys were not going to lose today, no matter what.”