Newly promoted Waterford FC today announced the signing of three hugely talented young players for the 2018 season. goalkeeper Matthew Connor, striker John Martin and defender Patrick McClean.
Martin 18, had a superb season, making 15 appearances and also scoring 4 goals.
The youngster said, “The club is still on a high from last season and it’s great to be able to look forward to Premier Division football in 2018. I’m really looking forward to pre-season and it will be good to get going again.”
“There will be a few new faces as well, so I’m looking forward to getting to know them. I was delighted about how last season went for me personally. The hat-trick in Athlone was a real highlight for me. That really got me going and gave me the confidence to push on and play for the first team more regularly.”
“I was delighted to get into the Irish set-up as well and to be involved in the tournament in Waterford was fantastic. It’s also great to be involved with the link-up between the club and W.I.T. under the Scholarship Scheme, so things are really going well for me.”
Connor 20, made the goalkeepers jersey his own, with 20 appearances for Alan Reynolds’ side.
Reynolds was delighted, “I think that we all saw how good John was last season and it’s great to have him back again ahead of the new campaign. He is a really exciting prospect as we saw during 2017 and I’ve no doubt he’ll kick on again in 2018.”
“Players like John are the future of this club and he is another lad who is from this region. He settled into the team well and gelled well with his team-mates. He is a good lad who is willing to learn and we are keen to see him get to work at the highest level next season.”
Connor said, “I’m delighted to have signed for he club for the 2018 season. After winning the First Division last season I wanted to be involved in the Premier Division and have a crack at it. I had a great year in 2017 so I’ll be hoping to build on that and enjoy another successful season.”
“2017 was an enjoyable season for the club, winning the league, but on a personal level I was very happy too. I had to wait a while before I eventually got my chance but when you’re playing well, you enjoy it so it was a great year and hopefully it will be more of the same in 2018.”
Reynolds said, “We know that we are stepping up a level but it’s good to see that a number of the lads from last season will be signing again. We will need more experience so that will really help us. It’s a shorter break but we just can’t wait to get back and give the Premier Division a real go.”
“Matthew is a young lad who did really well for us last season, so we’re hoping that he can make the step up to the Premier Division.
“He put in some excellent performances for us last season and we’re hoping that he can build on those in 2018. He is an exciting young goalkeeper who works hard on his game and has come on leaps and bounds over the past year.”
Derry born defender Patrick McClean who made 23 appearances for the club last season when the Blues won promotion back to the top flight has tasted Premier Division football before with his native Derry City.
The 20-year-old scored twice for the Blues last season, against both UCD and Cobh Ramblers, when he headed the match winner at the RSC.
He missed the final few games of the season through injury, undergoing an operation on a troublesome shoulder injury that he suffered prior to the mid-season break.
McClean said, “I am delighted to have re-signed with Waterford FC ahead of the new campaign. The club has been good to me on and off the pitch this year and I look forward to repaying that goodwill in 2018.”
“I am looking forward to testing myself against the best there is in Ireland and show that I belong at the top level. Hopefully as a group of lads we can do well and push Waterford FC onto the next level.”
Manager Alan Reynolds said, “Patrick was a big part of our side in the first half of the 2017 season, captaining the team on a number of occasions despite his young age. He showed incredible commitment on the pitch and it is no surprise that the fans took to him so well.”
“The injury he sustained was an obvious set-back for both the team and for Patrick personally but he’s working hard now in the off season to be fully fit and ready to go again in 2018. We look forward to welcoming him back to the South East when our training commences ahead of the new season.”
Photo Credit: Waterford FC
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