Linfield captain Jamie Mulgrew says a fear of failure is the driving force behind him winning a remarkable seven doubles during his time at Windsor Park.
The Blues midfielder, who won five under former boss David Jeffrey, picked up his second double on David Healy’s watch at Coleraine on Tuesday.
A 1-1 Showgrounds draw thanks to Mark Haughey’s goal ensured they added the title to the Irish Cup final win over Larne at Mourneview Park.
“I actually haven’t won an Irish Cup without winning a double,” said Mulgrew, who despite his veteran status is keen to add more silverware to his tally next season.
“Whenever you become part of Linfield and play for this club, you know what’s expected of you – it’s about winning and being successful,” he said.
“That is instilled in you from the word go and the pressures are there, week in, week out but you have to deal with it because that’s the history of the club. If you draw or lose a match at Linfield it becomes a crisis very quickly.
"I have no issues with that because that pressure keeps you hungry.
“It’s that fear of failure that drives me on and it is the attitude and feeling you’ve got to have at a club like Linfield.”
Mulgrew, who has made 629 appearances since joining the club as a teenager from derby rivals Glentoran in 2005, admits success gets sweeter with age.
Ahead of lifting the Gibson Cup at Cliftonville on Saturday, he said: “I turn 35 next month and God knows how long I’ve left but each trophy means a lot.
“Each year when we are successful I end up becoming emotional because if you want to be successful at Linfield you give your life to it.
“Your family makes sacrifices, you make sacrifices and to get the rewards from that means a lot. I enjoy playing and giving everything for this club and I want to continue to do that.”
Mulgrew paid tribute to boss David Healy who took his trophy count to four league titles, two doubles and eight trophies in only five full seasons.
“We both want the same things for the club,” he said. “It’s clear for everyone to see how well he has done. He has taken us to another level with the standards he sets and the hard work he puts in.”
