In fact, commenting in a recent feature in the Burnley Matchday Programme, Lafferty was said to be delighted to be making his “mark for both club and country.”
The former Celtic youngster made no secret of the fact that graduating onto the international stage was always on his personal agenda having represented N. Ireland at Schoolboy, Youth and Under-21 levels.
He talked about Derry City and the fact that so many young players had opted to declare for the “South” rather than the “North” during his time as a full-time footballer.
“Derry seems to be a place where people had always been prepared to leave the North and declare for the South - Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy and James McClean - are probably the main three,” said Danny.
“I also could have had the option if I’d wanted it. I could always have chosen to go to the South at a younger age level, but I probably wouldn’t have made the grade at that time,” he maintained.
“Then again, I was never invited to play for the South, whereas with N. Ireland I have always had an involvement from schoolboy level.
“With me, it was never a sectarian thing or anything like that. N. Ireland gave me all my caps at schoolboy and youth level right up, so I felt it would be very disrespectful of me to simply turn my back on the North and then join the South just because of my religion.
“I also met Michael O’Neill when he became the international manager and I knew him from playing in the League of Ireland as he managed Shamrock Rovers. It was Michael who presented me with an opportunity to play at senior international level which has always been one of my ambitions,” continued Danny.
Lafferty was also honest enough to suggest that there was a much better chance of him getting regular international football for the North than there would have been in the South, had he opted to try his luck south of the border.
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“I am thoroughly enjoying playing for N. Ireland at the top level. I’m playing for N. Ireland because that’s were I’m from. And I also think it’s good that I am another Catholic playing for the senior team. Thankfully, both politics and football have moved forward and I’m delighted to be a part of that as well.”
Lafferty’s commitment to the Northern Ireland cause has seen him sign-up as an IFA Ambassador for the “Football For All” Project, which uses the sport to promote peace and reconciliation and bring together both sides of the religious divide. And Danny was back in his home town earlier this year to promote the project in the company of his N. Ireland boss.
QuoteOriginally Posted by DannyInvincible
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