As we prepare for our return to Irish League football this weekend there is a great sense of excitement about the club. We have worked extremely hard both on and off the pitch for this to happen. Once the players take the field there will be a moment to appreciate what we have done but that will quickly be replaced with a determination to keep pushing forward. I am under no illusion how difficult this season will be for us but it’s where we want and deserve to be. We have gathered a squad that we feel will be able to compete at this level and our preparations for the new season have gone very well. The games, training sessions, our away day and our hike up Slieve Donard have all helped to create a good team spirit. The new signings have not only added experience and quality to the squad but have contributed to what was already a very good atmosphere within the changing rooms.

It’s always nice to kick off our season at home but Moyola will offer a stern test in our first league game. With the league now condensed into 12 teams there really won’t be any easy games this season. We are going to have to adapt very quickly to a quicker, more physical league and a higher standard of football than we have been used to. That said we won’t be a pushover for any team and are more than ready for the challenges ahead. We have worked too hard as a group to bring the club back to this level and we intend to keep progressing. Our away draw to Ards in the league cup has been rightly described by many as a very tough draw especially as they were last year’s beaten finalists. However these are the games that we want to be playing in and we should be looking forward to testing ourselves against Premiership teams.

Credit must also be given to the work being done by the reserve and youth team management in preseason. They are all ensuring that the best young players within the area are being given the best opportunity to step up to first team football. This is by no means easy but it’s vital we have a continuous supply of local players feeding into the senior team. As with any team that progresses we have lost some players along the way and I would like to take this opportunity to wish Sean Hand, Mark Lowry and Ben Wilson all the best in their future careers. They have all contributed to the success at the club and will always be welcome at The Showgrounds.

Finally I would like to thank our sponsors and fans who continue to back the club. Whilst we are working hard to achieve success on the pitch we couldn’t function without your unwavering support off it. Hopefully we can continue to give you something to cheer about and I can guarantee you that we will give all that we have to continue the good work at the club.

Yours in Sport,

Darren

Newry City have been drawn at home to Mid Ulster Intermediate B side Oxford Sunnyside in the 1st round of the Irish Cup. The match will take place at the Showgrounds on August 20th.

To view the full draw click the link below

http://www.irishfa.com/ifa-domestic/cup-competitions/tennents-irish-cup

With under age teams ranging from under 9 to under 19 there is a clear aspiration at NCAFC to attract and enhance the very best of local talent to The Showground’s. Having come through the ranks from under 15, under the guidance of Micky Morgan, Johnny Elliott, Robbie Irwin and Barry Treanor. Shealan Fegan is the latest prospect to emerge from the Academy structure securing the Newry U16s Top Goal Scorer award last year and rewarded with a request from manager Darren Mullen to join preseason training with the senior team making his debut as a substitute in the friendly against Annagh Utd..“Shealan Fegan is one of a number of young players at the club who have the potential to play first team football. Whilst we have made some very good signings this summer we will need a constant supply of youth players coming through the ranks. This is needed not only to make the club sustainable but it’s to give local lads the best possible opportunity to play for their home town club. Shealan has been given that opportunity in the game against Annagh and he certainly didn’t look out of place. Hopefully he can continue to improve with the help of the youth coaches at the club and his appearance can only encourage other youth players at the club to work harder.”

Name: Shealan Fegan

Age: 15

Position: Striker

Previous Clubs: Midway Utd and Camlough FC

Achievements: U12 Carnbane Cup, U13 Clare Cup, Newry U16s Top Goal Scorer 15/16 and that’s about it.

What Footballer do you look up to and why? I would say Theirry Henry, because he’s a striker I’ve watched for years and try to play similar to the way he did.

What is it like to be involved with the First Team Pre-Season? It has been a great experience for me to be involved with the seniors as it has been a challenge playing with and against good players which I have really enjoyed. It has also been great getting to know all the senior players and the management.

What are your hopes for the future? My hopes for the future is to play for Newry in the top flight of the Irish League, nothing is better than pulling on the blue and white jersey and representing your local club.

Newry Manager Darren Mullen is delighted with his latest signing Mark Hughes. ‘Mark is a massive signing for the club and a statement of intent in terms of how serious we are in not wanting to rest on our laurels. He is coming straight out of playing premiership football and is a classy player. His experience and skill level especially on the left hand side gives us a great boost and adds to what is now a really competitive squad. If we are to become competitive within this league, then we need players of Marks ability and I’m delighted he has decided to come back to the club.’

Mark Hughes… “It feels good to be back at Newry, I’m looking forward to the new season. It looks like Darren is putting together a good team and hopefully we can push for promotion.”

Photograph Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.