Gareth Deane explains why he spent Coleraine’s last European party ‘waiting to pee’

If Coleraine manage to overcome Velez Mostar in the Europa League, goalkeeper Gareth Deane doesn’t want to be detained in a drug testing room for the second year in a row.

The 27-year-old was given a baptism of fire a year ago when he joined Coleraine on a permanent deal from Linfield, going straight in for the Bannsiders’ Europa League tie against La Fiorita.

Coleraine won that tie to earn a date with Maribor in the next round, and pulled off a huge coup by beating the Slovakians on penalties to set up a mouth-watering clash against Motherwell.

The former QPR stopper revealed there was much celebrating by his team-mates, but he was restricted to listening to them and could not join in.

“James McLaughlin put us in front with a wonderful touch and finish, they equalised and it went to penalties, which we won,” the Hillsborough man told Sunday Life Sport.

“I didn’t actually save any penalties – but I dived the right way when they hit the post! Anyway, we won on penalties and we were all going mad on the pitch afterwards.

“But then a UEFA delegate pulled me away and told me I had to undergo a random drugs test, which basically meant I had to give a urine sample.

“So there I was, in a drugs room waiting to pee, and all I can hear is the changing room next door going nuts, shouting, singing, banging the walls, and I can’t be part of it.

“I think I was there for about an hour and a half, and when I eventually made it onto the team bus where the lads were waiting, I got dog’s abuse for holding them back!

“It was an incredible night, but the whole European experience last year was pretty crazy for me.

“I had joined Coleraine on a short-term contract then Coleraine put a bid in for me, and I was very happy with that.

“Just a week after I joined, I was thrown in at the deep end against La Fiorita, after just one friendly. That was a big game for me as I went straight in.

“I have no regrets about joining Coleraine, even though I am a Linfield fan, Windsor is a 15-minute drive for me and the Showgrounds is an hour and a half.

“They said I could train with a team closer by and I was going to join my brother Lewis at Knockbreda, but I thought it was right to show proper commitment.”