Stephen McDonnell calls on Irish League clubs to carry out more heart checks

Stephen McDonnell's playing career was cut short by a heart condition

Glenavon boss Stephen McDonnell has added his voice to calls for clubs to perform more regular heart checks.

McDonnell, who has been living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, has been moved by the Irish League’s support for Heart Month in February.

More than 1,500 players and coaches and almost 10,000 supporters in Northern Ireland are being given the opportunity to learn vital lifesaving skills.

The Northern Ireland Football League teamed up with the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) to promote the charity’s free and innovative online CPR training tool RevivR.

Glenavon were the first football club to receive the RevivR training and players wore t-shirts promoting the British Heart Foundation ahead of their game against Larne.

The partnership has raised awareness of heart and circulatory diseases and McDonnell has welcomed a light being shone on the issue.

It was during a medical in 2014 while at Celtic that a heart problem was discovered, forcing McDonnell to retire at the age of 22.

He was fitted with an internal defibrillator and although his playing career was cut short, his coaching ambitions gathered pace. McDonnell was appointed as Warrenpoint Town boss in February 2018 on a short-term deal which was made permanent as he helped the club avoid relegation and reach the Irish Cup Semi-Finals.

He has also been Dundalk first team coach/Academy manager, Shelbourne Under 19 Head Coach and worked as Assistant Development Coach with the Irish Football Association.

“It’s been great to publicise and raise awareness around the heart issue,” he said. “I know all about it but I’m feeling great. I’m hoping more clubs will do heart checks but