Yahoo Sport 
Cliftonville defender Conor Pepper shares reason why 'everyone has a reason to hate me'
Having crossed the 'Big Two' divide and then gone on to join Cliftonville, Conor Pepper accepts there are a lot of Irish League football fans who "have a reason" to hate him.
The 30-year-old Dubliner spent two years at the Oval before moving to South Belfast to join Linfield in 2020 where he spent another three years.
Pepper then swapped the Blues for the Reds, signing for Cliftonville in the summer of 2023 and helping the Solitude men win the Irish Cup last season and qualify for Europe.
READ NEXT: Magilton offers thoughts on Rooney arrival as Larne embark on new era
Pepper - who has also played in the League of Ireland and Scotland - has enjoyed an impressive career, but he won't receive praise from everyone.
He accepts that there are plenty of fans who would prefer to give him grief, having hopped between three bitter Belfast rivals in the past six years.
Pepper joked on BBC Sportsound: "Yeah, it gives everyone a reason to hate me. I sometimes go into town for a beer and there is always someone staring at me for some reason now.
"Some of the players make jokes that I am one of the most booed players they have seen in the Irish League. I go to a different ground every week and someone wants to call me a name.
READ MORE: Larne vs Cliftonville: Jim Magilton offers thoughts on Nathan Rooney arrival
READ MORE: Liam Boyce back to Cliftonville 'fantasy land stuff' for Reds boss Jim Magilton
"It is good and bad. I am very privileged and proud to have done it. I know it is something small, but managers and players wanting to bring me to these clubs and into the changing rooms. That is a big deal being wanted by your peers.
"And there have been some very good managers wanting to bring me to their football clubs. So I am very proud of that."
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
