Mark McCabe is the latest Newry City player to re-sign at the club for the upcoming season.

Mark follows a host of first-team players in committing to the cause for the 2019/20 season and City boss Darren Mullen said “it is a great boost for the club”.

Darren added, “Last year was a tough season for us all but also a great learning experience and I’ve no doubt Mark will be a better player for it. I know he is looking forward to playing his part in what we hope will be a successful season.”

Mark was the Championship’s joint leading scorer in 2017/18 and City fans will hope the 22-year-old can replicate that sort of form this term as the club seek to bounce straight back to the Premiership.

“I’m happy to sign another contract with Newry. I feel this year we will have a strong chance of getting promoted with the team we have and also the new signings coming in will definitely strengthen the squad,” Mark said.

“I feel confident Darren will do his best to get Newry back to where we belong in top-flight football. I want to regain my confidence in scoring goals and winning games which I feel I will do at Newry.”

Newry manager Darren Mullen has secured the services of Camlough native John Grant.

The 25-year-old, who recently returned home after a three-year spell living in Australia, has experience playing at Championship level with Lurgan Celtic and was also previously on the books at Camlough Rovers.

He is a versatile player who can be deployed anywhere across the middle of the park or up front but is most effective in central midfield.

“John’s a former youth player at Newry and was always an impressive footballer. Not just for his physicality but his ability on the ball as well,” City boss Darren Mullen said.

“We played against him when he was with Camlough on numerous occasions and he caused us a lot of problems so we’re delighted to have him on board. We actually tried to sign him a couple of times unsuccessfully before he left for Australia, but he made contact with us to say he was coming home. He’s a signing that we need because even last season we were lacking that bit of physical presence and he’ll certainly give us that at 6 foot five!

“He’s still only 25 and has his best years are ahead of him. He knows the rest of the lads and I think he’ll do well for us this year.”

Meanwhile John said signing for Newry was “an easy decision to make” and is looking forward to joining up with the squad in pre-season.

“I know most of the lads already. Newry are a good side, they play at a good standard of football and it’s a great pitch here at the Showgrounds, so everything fits for me,” stated Grant.

“I was in the Championship One before with Lurgan Celtic a good few years ago so I know what sort of challenges to expect in this league. It’s a good standard and a hard league to get out of but hopefully we’ll get back up to the Premiership because that’s our main goal obviously.

“I look at what Darren has done here over the last couple of seasons with back-to-back promotions and I’d love to be a part of a promotion winning team here at Newry and can’t wait to get started.”

Photograph courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography