Kevin McAllister caught up with Newry City AFC Manager Darren Mullen this week to chat about our pre season so far, check it out….

A familiar face returned to Newry City on Tuesday when Darren King put pen to paper joining Darren Mullens squad as they prepare for life in The Championship next season. Undoubtedly a class act Engine also brings years of recent experience at a higher level of football to The Showgrounds and will be a massive addition to the club, a fact which was not lost on the manager “Although we have a big squad and there is competition for places throughout, it’s very hard to pass up the opportunity of signing someone of Engine’s calibre. As a former captain he returns to the club with a wealth of experience and is a welcome addition to what we hope will be a competitive squad in next season’s Championship. A player with the commitment and enthusiasm which will rub off on others and the fact he can play in a variety of roles will be of great benefit. His eagerness to sign for Newry was evident and I’ve no doubt the players and fans will be glad to see him back at the club.

Darren King commented “I’m delighted to be back at Newry and hopefully my Premiership and Championship experience can add to what is already a very strong and competitive squad. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the pitch at The Showground’s and playing with some the best players in the local area, a lot of whom I know extremely well both on and off the pitch.”

Photograph Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography

While Gary and Lauren have been trail blazing the Redpath name at The Showgrounds for the last few years next season it will be Jake’s turn to make his mark with Newry City after he signed for the club on Tuesday. Previously attached to Newry as a youth player Jake has enjoyed a number of successful seasons at Rathfriland and more recently at Dollingstown where he won Player of the Year awards in each of the last two seasons which obviously attracted the attention of Newry manager Darren Mullen who commented “Jake is a player who has been on our radar for the past few years and thankfully we have managed to sign him. Since he left the club as a youth player he has developed into a really good defender and I feel he is well fit to play at this level. He is another determined young player that we have added to the squad which means we have quality options throughout every position.”

Jake added “It’s a pleasure to have signed for Newry City, a club that is on its way back to where it deserves to be. I know it’s not going to be easy and there’s going to be a lot of competition for places, but I’m going to give 100 percent and hopefully I can add something to the squad.”

Photograph courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

This afternoon Newry City added more quality to their first team panel with the signing of Nathan Murphy.

In his early 20’s Nathan is already an experienced player having previously played for both his hometown club, Dundalk as well as Warrenpoint “I signed a professional contract with Dundalk when I was 16 & continued to play with them for five years, after about a year’s break from football I joined Warrenpoint when they were in the Premiership so I know what the standard of football will be like though due to my own work commitments it didn’t work out.

“Thankfully Darren gave me a call which I was very grateful for, I know a few of the boys already such as John Boyle, Mark Hughes, Kevin McArdle, Jimmy Walker & Stephen Hughes is another fantastic signing Darren has made, so I am looking forward to getting a good pre-season under my belt and help the club push on in the league.”

This signing is further testament to the fact that Newry manager Darren Mullen is not about to rest on his laurels “To add Nathan to the squad shows how attractive the club has become to quality players. He has played international youth football, made over 100 appearances for Dundalk and played premiership football for Warrenpoint so comes with a wealth of experience. We need good quality footballers who can play in several positions and different formations which Nathan can do with ease. He was probably the easiest signing we have made this summer as he just wants to play and enjoy his football which I’ve no doubt he will do.”