You are in the first job of your managerial career at Lisburn Distillery.
How do you reflect on your time at the club since taking over in 2022?
“It’s been extremely beneficial for my self-development.
“I joined a club with no players, no structure—essentially a blank canvas. I needed to rebuild the club’s reputation to make it appealing to potential players.
“I relied on my contacts to bring players in and I had to sign very young talents.
“Now, after four transfer windows, we now feel we have a truly competitive team capable of challenging the top teams in our league.”
The club has a rich history in Irish League football. Do you find that this legacy presents a challenge, particularly in terms of managing players who may view the club through the lens of its past achievements?
“Yes, the club’s history must be respected, but as you mentioned, we are in a new era and essentially starting with a blank slate.
“Absolutely. Today’s young players are often more focused on their personal interests rather than the club’s past. They tend to be quite self-centered, prioritising what benefits them the most. Personally, because of my connection to Cliftonville and my childhood support for the club, it was a dream for me to play there. However, with all due respect, today’s young players are often more interested in clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool than in the local clubs or the Irish League.
“Due to this, using our history as a selling point is increasingly challenging. Especially with younger players, this aspect isn’t as significant as it once was.”
As you mentioned, Cliftonville held great personal significance for you, and you were able to fulfill your dream of playing for the club. How do you reflect on your time there?
“It was truly the best time of my life.
“However, now that I’m in management, I need to set those achievements aside. Sure, I might show my kids my medals and jerseys, but for me, that chapter is closed. Our players are more interested in achieving their own successes rather than hearing about my past at Cliftonville.
“They want to win trophies and experience success for themselves. My focus is now on guiding them to achieve that. The reality is that my playing career is over, and it’s time to concentrate on my future in management. I believe players value a manager who focuses on their development rather than constantly talking about their own past accomplishments.
“My goal is to develop our players and improve their performance, which in turn will help elevate the club to where it belongs.”
How would you sum up the ideal style of play that you want to see from your team as a manager?
“Everyone tends to compare themselves to the Premier League in England, given its prominence.
“I advise our players not to focus too much on it because it’s different to ask players like John Stones and Virgil van Dijk to receive and play the ball from the back compared to asking, with all due respect, Fra Brennan and Dylan Whiteway. We need to play to our strengths.
“While I would love to play an attractive, stylish game all the time, ultimately, my priority is winning. Ideally, I want our team to have a distinct style—how we press, our level of aggression, and the excitement we bring to the game.
“However, there are times when we need to set aside style for the sake of securing a win. So, my management approach is to prioritize winning above all else.
“Given the competitive nature of our division, there are various teams with differing goals. Some, like us, are aiming to progress, while others might be more accustomed to their current level and could remain there.”
Finally, Barry, what are your aims for this season with Distillery?
“As we discussed earlier, the club has a strong history and foundation. It has also been a Premiership team in the past.
“Our long-term strategy is to return to the Premiership. Whether I am the one to achieve that or someone else, I am committed to being part of the journey to establish a solid foundation for reaching the top tier. It would be unrealistic for me to be content with a mid-table finish; my goal is to elevate the club as high as possible in the league.
“A key factor in achieving our goals is to be strategic and sensible in our recruitment efforts. The club is dedicated to identifying realistic targets to build a competitive team and drive improvement.
“For example, we identified Aaron Cochrane last year as a key target due to his outstanding performance against us. He was highly sought after in our league, and securing him was a significant achievement.
“Ultimately, promotion must be our ambition this season, without question.”
Featured image: NIFL – check out their documentary on the history of Lisburn Distillery.
Link below:
Callum McFadden 