Jim Magilton: 'Telling players of Michael Newberry's death will live with me'
Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton has opened up on the moment he had to tell his squad of Michael Newberry's death.
Newberry died suddenly on December 30 on what was his 27th birthday. His death sent shockwaves throughout the Irish League community.
The Reds defender had previously played for Linfield, and started his career at Newcastle United.
READ MORE: Michael Newberry: Family lead the tributes as Cliftonville star laid to rest
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Magilton says telling his squad is an experience that will "live with me for the rest of my days".
He added: "I had a really tough experience, my father had a massive heart attack in front of me and I couldn't save his life. I had to try to resuscitate him and it didn't happen. The paramedics then spent 45 minutes trying to resuscitate him and couldn't.
"That was the lowest I've ever been in my life up until I got a phone call from Mr Newberry [Michael's father] on that morning.
"There were no coaching manuals helped me to deal with that. Nothing prepares you for standing in front of a group of men, playing colleagues, and telling them that they've lost one of their colleagues. That will live with me for the rest of my days."
Magilton described Newberry as a "huge loss" to everyone at Cliftonville.
Tributes poured in from players, managers, officials and fans across every club in the Irish League and further afield.
"Michael is a huge loss to everybody connected with the football club – to the players, to the staff, relationships he had built up both at Cliftonville and at Linfield," Magilton said.
"The turnout for his funeral was magnificent and David Burke, our club chaplain, spoke so eloquently about him.
"Michael had a massive impact on so many people's lives, the outpouring of emotion for Michael was so visible. It was a very sad occasion but life goes on and we have to turn up for games, we have to prepare ourselves mentally for the games."
Magilton says Cliftonville will attempt to honour Newberry with their performances this season.
He said: "We have to try and continue to do him justice.
"Michael turned up for every training session with this unbelievable enthusiasm to want to play. The game and being around his team-mates meant so much to him. He was first on the pitch, last off.
"We'll always remember him, we'll never forget the impact he had on our life."
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