Ben’s buzz timetable

Ben Wylie says he’s excited about the imminent return of the matchday buzz ahead of Cliftonville’s Sports Direct Premiership clash with Newry City.

The Reds travel to The Showgrounds tomorrow for their first League outing of 2024, with new recruit Wylie looking forward to his first taste of action since bringing the curtain down on his stint with Swedish outfit Ytterhogdals in early November.

“It’s exciting to be back training throughout the week and working towards a match at the end of it,” says the 21-year-old.

“It’s been a while since I last played a game and I’m looking forward to it, it’s good to have that excitement back.”

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international, who enjoyed a spell on loan at hometown side Ballymena United at the same time that his Celtic team-mate Barry Coffey was with Cliftonville during the 2020/21 season, has kept in touch with the Irish League while he’s been away and is determined to help the Reds maintain their good form.

“I’ve worked with Jim Magilton before in the Northern Ireland system,” he explains.

“I saw the way he operated there and I’ve seen what he’s already done in such a short space of time at Cliftonville. He wants to build something special and hopefully I can come in and be a part of us all achieving that.

“It’s great for me personally to have got the deal done and to be back part of a changing room again. It’s been a good week of training and having a match to look forward to just gives you that wee edge, it’s a different kind of motivation and if you don’t have that, you might as well just stay in the house because that excitement is what really sets you up to go out and play.”

Newry City v Cliftonville
Adults: £13
Concessions (OAP/ Full-time student): £9
Aged 12-16: £5
Under-11s: Free with a paying Adult/ Concession
Tickets: Here
Cash turnstiles will also be in operation