Jordan Morrison says nothing would make him more proud than captaining boyhood club Ballymacash Rangers in the Irish League.
The Lisburn club need a point from their final game against Bourneview Mill tonight to secure Mid Ulster’s Intermediate A title.
If they prevail, it will leave Lee Forsythe’s men in position to earn promotion to the NIFL Premier Intermediate League via a play-off.
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Morrison, 25, is from Ballymacash and has supported the club since he was a young boy.
His Grandfather is also on the committee, making it a family affair at the Bluebell.
“I played at Dundela for six years, so it was different dropping down to the Mid Ulster League. But I am loving it,” Morrison told Match on Tuesday.
“I was brought down to Ballymacash to help them go up, and I feel I am doing that.
“I was signed under Michael Gault and this is my second year. The club is ambitious and they are doing everything to get us up, and the players have to deliver on the pitch.
“There are boys who haven’t won leagues before and a few nerves have maybe crept in over recent weeks. This is what we have been working for all year and sometimes getting over the line is the hardest part.
“We have a target on our backs. Everyone wants to beat Ballymacash and not too many teams like us. They kick us and raise their game against us, 100 per cent.”
The midfielder added: “I am still only 25 and I am ambitious to play at as high a level as I can.
“Ballymacash want to be playing in the Premier Intermediate League. I know what it’s like to play in the Irish League and I want to go back there.
“I am from Ballymacash, I have family on the committee and I am captain. I would love nothing more than helping Ballymacash play in the Irish League. That would be a dream.
“Hopefully it can happen this season. It would be a hugely proud moment for me and the club. My Granda is on the committee and I have been involved with the club since I was seven or eight years old.
“So it would be massive for me.
“I have told Lee (Forsythe) from the start that it’s what I want to do, so hopefully we realise that ambition. Get the league wrapped up on Tuesday night and then go into a play-off to see who plays in the PIL.”
Ballymacash were held to a 1-1 draw by Crewe on Saturday to keep the title champagne on ice - Michael Moore got the goal for Rangers.
Crewe can still finish level on points with Lee Forsythe’s men, but Ballymacash have a far superior goal difference than their rivals - currently standing at 41.
“Crewe have three games left and can still catch us on points, but we can put it to bed on Tuesday night,” Morrison said.
“It is such a tough league. There are no easy games. The standard this season has been incredible, and you have teams who are attracting former Irish League players.
“So the standard has been very high.
“Crewe are a quality team and they have pushed us all the way. Most of their players have played Irish League football, and our only league defeat this season was against them.
“We got a point on Saturday which was important. We knew it would be a tough game. They needed to win to still win the league. They still can, but our goal difference is sitting at 41 better than them.
“But we want to do it on points, we don’t want to be crowned champions on goal difference.
“We will be all out to beat Bourneview on Tuesday night. Lee is going to play as strong a team as possible to get the result we need.
“We want to do it the right way.”
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