A look at the Blues ahead of the new season
Our last preview of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division is saved for the last team in the door after Waterford’s dramatic Play-Off win against Munster rivals Cork City back in November.
It was a night that will live long in the memory for the Blues faithful but Keith Long’s attention has quickly turned to getting a squad ready for the top flight.
Long will be glad to be back in a Division he knows well from his long tenure at Bohemians and he has been building a squad ready to face its challenges.
He will have some players along with him that helped get Waterford to the top flight and have become firm fan favourites in the process.
Barry Baggley and Connor Parsons (who scored THAT goal in the Play-Off), are retained and Waterford fans will be very pleased indeed.
Ryan Burke is also a player that Long will have been glad to keep after impressing in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division last season.
There are, however, a number of new faces in the Waterford squad and a familiar one for League of Ireland fans coming through the door is Padraig Amond.
The striker has had some career in the UK and arrives back in Ireland ready to set the top flight alight again.
Two other highlights in the transfer window have been Darragh Leahy and Ben McCormack coming in from Dundalk and St. Pat’s respectively.
Long reunites with Leahy but also links with Grant Horton, too, who arrives on a permanent transfer from the UK after his time with Bohemians.
Kacper Radkowski is another former Bohemian in the RSC this year and former Shelbourne striker Gbemi Arubi comes in too.
These new bodies added to the likes of young starlet Romeo Akachukwu makes for an interesting combination which should excite Blues fans.
Long has been looking forward to tomorrow’s opener with Shelbourne.
“We’re really excited for the league kicking off on Friday with the club back in the SS Airtricity Men’s Premier Division. It’s going to be a big challenge but it’s great to be starting the season playing in front of a capacity crowd at the RSC on Friday night,” he said.
“Shels is a tough game to start but it’ll be a great test against a top four side; they’re a well-organised team and have quality players,” Long concluded.
A capacity crowd is expected to kick off Waterford’s new era in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division and their aim for the season will be to cement their status in the Division.
They can start things off with a bang tomorrow in the RSC.
Finish last season - 2nd SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division (Promoted in Play-Offs)
Head Coach - Keith Long
Key player - Padraig Amond
