Robbie Walker has targeted reaching some of the middle section cup competitions following his appointment at the Fermanagh Premier Milk Cup manager.

Walker has an abundance of experience of involvement with Fermanagh Milk Cup teams as well as with the likes of Loughgall, Kesh and Ballinamallard and he is relishing the prospect of leading the Premier team at the North West’s famous football tournament.

“Managing the Premier squad is something that I have had a desire to do for a long time. I have managed the Junior side and I’ve been assistant manager with the Premier side on two previous occasions and I’m now looking forward to managing the Premier,” he said.

Walker was in charge of the Junior side in 2008, a squad that included the likes of Joe McGovern and John Currie, and they produced some good results with a win, two draws and two narrow defeats recorded over the course of the week.

Walker was then assistant manager to Paul Keenan with the Premier squad in 2009 and two years ago he was assistant to John Quinn.

“I’ve good experience as far as the Milk Cup is concerned and I’m keen to get down to work. We’ll start trials at the beginning of February and after the six initial trials that we have planned, we’ll hopefully have the squad down to in or around the 30 mark,” he added.

Walker states that he has a good knowledge of the players at his disposal for the campaign.

“There would be quite a few of them playing for Ballinamallard in the Reserve League which would stand them in good stead for playing in something like the Milk Cup while there is a good number of them eligible from last year although they will all have to prove themselves to the management team. I have also been keeping an eye on the Fermanagh and Western Youth League and actually took in two games at the Bawnacre last Tuesday night between Kesh and Town and Lisnaskea and Rangers where there were a number of players on each side who are eligible for the Milk Cup,” he said.

So what are Robbie’s hopes for the squad?

“I would love to play in one of the middle cups. If we can get into that I would be happy enough and it would be great to come home with some silverware,” said Walker.