When Mark Stafford left his home club Ballinamallard for Linfield a couple of seasons ago it was to get his hands on winners’ medals.

And on Saturday the centre half played his role as the Blues came from behind on a tension filled final day of the season to beat Cliftonville and secure the league title while he will be hoping to complete a league and cup double this Saturday when Linfield take on Coleraine.

“The reason I left Ballinamallard to go to Linfield was to win major trophies. We won the County Antrim Shield but we wanted the big one, the Gibson Cup and it was some experience on Saturday. A lot of people said to me that it was the wrong time to go to Linfield because they hadn’t won in a few years but for me that was the perfect time to go, to help them try and get back to where they should be and that’s why I went at the time I did go and I’m delighted we have won the title,” he said.

It was far from straight forward though. Having looked out of the title picture only a few weeks ago Linfield overhauled Crusaders to go top going into the final game. However, at half time on Saturday they trailed to Cliftonville while Crusaders were beating Glenavon and if results stayed the same then the Crues were on for a third title in a row. A super second half though saw Linfield take control and a hat trick from Andy Waterworth sealed the title.

“When we were going in at half time losing 1-0 we knew the score in the Crusaders game and I have never felt pressure like it in a changing room before. You hear using the term ‘you can cut the atmosphere in half’, well literally you could have done that. We knew we were that close but we were so poor in the first half. The early goal though in the second half set us up and we were able to go on and get the job done thankfully,” he said.

“Late goals have been crucial for the Blues in their run to the title, including a cracker at Ferney Park that earned them all three points against Ballinamallard.

We have scored a lot of late goals and you need to do that to win leagues and that’s what Crusaders have done this last couple of seasons. We were two down away to Glenavon with nine men but we came back to get a draw, I scored in the 94th minute against Ballymena at Christmas time in a game we won 2-1. There was a lot of games where there wasn’t that much between the two teams but just that wee bit of quality at the end, like the strike of Steven Lowry at the end against Ballinamallard game, won it for us. That was the difference for us,” stated Stafford.

Stafford was joined by another Fermanagh man, Roy Carroll, at Linfield this season and Stafford says that the Northern Ireland international has played a massive role in their title win.

“Roy has been unbelievable and when you hear that voice behind you it gives you great confidence. There has been times this season when he hasn’t had much to do but in the games when he has been called on he made match winning saves. He has been superb,” added Stafford.

And he says that the league title makes the travelling up and down to Belfast that little bit easier.

“It is a big commitment to go up and down the road for training and matches and it is a big commitment not just for me but for my wife as well. We have a wee one year old daughter at home and my wife has to do everything with the child when I’m not there so it is hard for her as well but yes, that makes it that little bit easier.”

With a league winners’ medal in the bag, Stafford says that their attentions have now turned to securing a double with the Cup Final against Coleraine coming up this Saturday.

“It’s the last game of the season and it’s one that all the boys are looking forward too. We got our suits on Monday night and after last weekend all the boys are buzzing. We are in a good place at the minute and we’ll prepare well and be ready for Saturday,” he said.