‘Elder statesmen’ ready to add to rich history of mutual respect

Shared experience accumulated from thousands of games and a combined trophy tally at 45 and counting mark Jeffrey and Baxter as senior figures on the Irish League scene.

A mutual respect is obvious between a pair described by Jeffrey as our game’s “two elder statesmen”.

“Stephen has been a very close friend now for a long time and we are now the two elder statesmen,” said Jeffrey. “The job Stephen has done at Crusaders is nothing short of miraculous when you consider a club relegated and close to going out of business then rising to become perennial challengers for trophies.

“Crusaders are very much a self-made club and, in many ways, an example we should seek to follow.

“The pathway is harder than ever now but you look at how Crusaders have built on everything to reach this point of being able to go towards that full-time route.

“It is something they have had to earn every step of the way.”

Jeffrey has a deep respect for Crusaders’ past progress but it is his own club’s future and forward momentum which dominates ahead of the latest meeting between the teams.

“The level of performance this season shows our players are in a good place and enjoying playing,” said Jeffrey. “In the summer we looked to strengthen and I was very pleased with being able to bring in signings to create healthy competition across the squad.

“I was pleased with our summer work coming into a season in which every game is tough.

“Player unavailability adds to the challenge but we are looking forward to facing a well-drilled Crusaders.”

Baxter heads into the challenge full of praise for his players’ performance levels despite also aiming to get back on track from defeat in the previous game.

“David is our greatest manager,” said Baxter. “Saturday will be another big test against a Ballymena we can expect will come into the game fabulously well-prepared.

“They made a good start by beating Coleraine then the Linfield defeat was a close-run game.

“After last weekend’s loss to Larne they will face us looking to put that right as quickly as possible.

“David has exceptional players in his Ballymena squad and they have strengthened well with the signings.

“I’ve been very pleased with our start to the season overall, with two wins then a superb performance at Windsor Park in which we were unlucky not to come away with a draw against Linfield.

“Our second-half performance was especially pleasing.

“The boys have been working really hard and the focus is on the job at hand and cementing those points.

“I think my players deserve a lot of praise as I’ve been very pleased with the levels of performance put in.

“They’ve been training really well, putting in the hard work and doing what is asked.”