Frazer feels United loan spell was big success

Jonny Frazer had a successful loan spell with Ballymena United. Picture: Damian McKee/Picture Magic Studios.

The 19-year-old winger spent the second half of the season at the Showgrounds on loan from Linfield.

And as he prepares to return to Windsor Park for next season, Frazer has thanked everyone who helped make his spell at Ballymena a success.

“First and foremost, I have to thank Glenn Ferguson and Sammy McFadden for bringing me to the club in the first place,” said Jonny.

“Things didn’t really work out the way any of us had planned, with the change of manager, but if it hadn’t been for them, I wouldn’t have been at Ballymena at all.

“Growing up supporting Linfield, I already had a huge amount of respect for David Jeffrey and he also played a big part in my time at Ballymena.

“I think my game improved a lot after David came in - he put his faith in me and I started most of the games since he came in.

“Two games really stand out in my mind from my time at Ballymena - the first was when we drew 2-2 with Cliftonville after playing with 10 men.

“Before, I would always have been concentrating on the attacking side of my game but David and Bryan McLoughlin helped develop the other side of my game, like tracking back, and in that match, I cleared three off the line.

“The other game that springs to mind was the day we scored four goals in the first half at Dungannon.

“I was really pleased to get on the scoresheet that day. It wasn’t my first senior goal - I scored while I was on loan at Warrenpoint the previous season - but it’s always nice to get your first goal for whatever club you’re at.

“The plan for my time at Ballymena was to try and establish myself as a player in this league and prove that I can play at this level and I’m confident I can.

“I’ve been in and out of the first team at Linfield and now I want to try and force my way back into the team there.

“I want to thank everyone at Ballymena - the fans were really supportive and the players really took me under their wing.”

Jeffrey has already intimated that he will continue to monitor Frazer’s progress at Linfield and the winger admits: “If, in six months’ time, Linfield feel it’s better for me to go out and get experience, there’s no club I would rather go to than Ballymena.

“It’s a great club and I think there are exciting times ahead for Ballymena next season,” added Jonny.