Aaron Traynor’s sights on golden gains not golden years with Coleraine

With the post-30 period considered the closing stages of a football career, Traynor has turned to outside help in a bid to extend time in Coleraine colours disrupted by injury.

Now, bolstered by this week’s two-year contract extension, Traynor is keen to kick on and embrace tonight’s Europa League adventure when La Fiorita of San Marino visit The Showgrounds.

“During lockdown as part of my personal fitness regime I started working with a trainer to deal with specific leg work and movement,” said Traynor, who arrived at Coleraine from Warrenpoint Town in May 2017. “After losing so much time to injury then coming back towards the end of last year from the ACL problems, I felt great over that initial period.

“But, being honest, I started to feel it towards those final weeks leading up to lockdown in March and had to accept I was still not 100 per cent.

“I was probably going on pure adrenaline and realised it was just off.

“Now since working with a joint specialist I can really feel the difference.

“I feel like I’ve now broken past that barrier and am moving better and feeling faster than in a long time.

“The style of player I am as an attacking full-back that gets up and down, along with the strain of other sports, has all probably added up over the years and my legs have just taken a battering.

“Now I feel better than ever and look on turning 30 as an opportunity to move up another level.

“It’s about longevity for me still and hopefully putting the focus on those small margins can help keep me strong and able to contribute.”

Traynor was a driving force within Coleraine’s rise up the rankings across his first season at The Showgrounds - dazzling personal form rewarded with a place in the ‘Team of the Season’ line-up as the squad secured Irish Cup glory. He can also count a League Cup winner’s medal in his Coleraine collection.

“We’ve been league runners-up a few times, reached Irish Cup semi-finals and won trophies, plus had real momentum before lockdown,” he said. “I’m realistic, I wouldn’t be signing contract extensions and talking about this squad’s potential if I didn’t think we were in a position to continue pushing forward.

“I’ve now signed three contracts in four years at Coleraine and each conversation has lasted about two minutes.

“Aside from the respect I have for Oran Kearney as manager, there’s massive trust between us and he has been a brilliant support on and off the field.

“Because of all that, I was completely relaxed coming into the final year of my contract and we had a brief chat before the Irish Cup semi-final.

“It was a no-brainer for me and, 100 per cent, I see there being so much more to come from Coleraine.”

Traynor will add to his European experience tonight in a behind-closed-doors tie revamped as a result of the coronavirus restrictions.

“It’s going to be a one-off game compared to two legs and even without the fans in the ground, we still need to make the most of the home advantage,” said Traynor.

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