Right click and ’save as’ to download the A4 match poster for the Blues v Longford Town game.

Waterford United tonight signed midfielder Stephen Grant from local side Tramore AFC for the remainder of the 2009 season.

The 23-year-old’s signing is a great boost for the Blues squad, as he can play anywhere across the midfield, and he will add hugely to Stephen Henderson’s options in both attack and defence. Possessing great energy and mobility, Stephen tackles well, loves to get forward in support of the attack, and has an eye for goal.

In September 2004 he scored one of the quickest ever goals at the Brandywell, in the first minute of the Derry City v Waterford United match, only to have it chalked off as the tie was abandoned due to floodlight failure after 19 minutes. In February 2006 he was a late call-up to Don Givens’ Ireland U-21 side for the Madeira Tournament, and he took full advantage of his chance, playing in all three games, and scoring the first goal in the 2-1 win in the final match against Portugal as Ireland went on to win the tournament.

Originally signed from Waterford Bohemians, where he played with Kenny Browne, Stephen spent three years with the Blues, from 2004 to 2006, but was released by then manager Gareth Cronin at the end of that campaign. He joined Kilkenny City in 2007, but his spell there was short-lived, brought to an end by City’s untimely demise as a League of Ireland senior club before the 2008 season commenced. He signed for Tramore AFC for the 2008/09 season, and helped the Seasiders to lift the Waterford Junior League Premier crown at the end of May, in a play-off against Carrick United.

He will go straight into the squad, and be in contention for selection for the first game back after the mid-season break, away to Longford Town this Sunday, July 5th (KO 6.30pm).

Alfie Hale, Michael Drohan, Paddy Ryan and Johnny Matthews launch the Legends match - photo: Paul Elliot

The Walk for United fundraiser is proceeding apace, and virtually all of the sponsorship cards are out, though for anyone who still wishes to pick one up, there are a couple more available if you contact the club office (office@waterford-united.ie or 051-392034).

For everyone who picked up a card this is a reminder that they can be returned to the same usual sources in the run up to the day, or at the RSC on the day itself. The Walk is to take place on Sunday, July 5th, from 12.00 noon to 1.30pm, and is to be followed immediately by a Blues Legends match. This match is a part of the Walk afternoon, and admission is free to all, but to answer a question posed several times already, spectators who wish to contribute will be able to do so on the day by means of open sponsor cards which will be there at the RSC.

The build-up to the Legends match was launched this weekend, and both managers, Alfie Hale and Johnny Matthews, are currently hard at work putting together their squads of former Blues players. If waterford-united.ie can swing it, sneak previews of who will be taking part may well appear here over the coming days!

Waterford United’s upcoming fixtures away to Longford Town and Monaghan United have been changed.

The Blues were due to face Longford Town in the first match after the mid season break on Saturday July 4th at Flancare Park but this game will now be played at Flancare Park on Sunday July 5th at 6.30pm due to pitch works being done at the Flancare Pitch which will only be finished on the Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, Waterford’s league fixture against Monaghan United at Kingspan Century Homes Park due to be played on Friday July 17th will now be played on Sunday July 19th at 3.00pm

This is a call out to anyone reading who has played, or who knows someone who has played, for Waterford United in the past.

As noted in the local papers this week, a Legends game is to be staged at the RSC on July 5th after the sponsored Walk for United, and two teams of ex-Blues players, headed up by Alfie Hale and Johnny Matthews, are beginning to be assembled for the game.

Purely due to the loss of contact over the years, the two managers won’t be able to get in touch with everyone they might like to, so if you are interested in playing, or know someone who might be, please get in touch with either Johnny or Alfie, or email the club at media@waterford-united.ie.

Ticket sales for the upcoming friendly between Waterford United and Roy Keane’s Ispwich Town on Friday, July 17th (KO 8.00pm) are brisk, to say the least of it! In or around 900 tickets were sold on Friday night at the Athlone Town match alone, including all of the kids and concession tickets.

Adult tickets, at €15, are now on sale all over the city and county. In the city, they can still be obtained from any board member, from John Ryan’s shop on Patrick Street, and from the club office under the new stand at the RSC, from 10.30 to 1.00pm, Monday to Friday.

In the west they are also available from Ger Wyley’s shop in Dungarvan, and they can also now be secured from a multitude of football clubs all over the county. Clubs who are taking part in the initiative (at the time of this update) include : Pinewood (Ballymacarbry), Clerihan, Cappoquin, Lismore, Tallow, Clashmore, Ardmore, An Gaeltacht, Ballinroad, Abbeyside, Stradbally, Ballyduff, Kilmacthomas, Rathgormack, Portlaw, Carrick, Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Crusaders, Hibs, Southend, St. Saviours and Park Rangers.

WUFC are grateful to everybody who are assisting in the distribution of the tickets. Fingers crossed they’ll help to ensure a full house on July 17th!

Waterford United 2-1 Athlone Town 

Kenny Browne almost connects with a corner

Waterford United tonight proved too strong for an Athlone Town side that they couldn’t quite manage to kill off completely, even a man down, and who they allowed score right at the very death to take the gloss off the victory, if not to make for a nervy end.

A scrappy first half offered little in the way of real chances, though the home side had the lion’s share of the few on show. A well worked move down the right on 10 minutes saw Graham Cummins almost set up Kevin Waters at the back post, but a blue toe took it behind and beyond the midfielder. At the other end Athlone almost fashioned a chance of their own with a dangerous Damien Rushe free kick from the right which had to be dealt with by Kenny Browne. It wasn’t until 21 minutes had passed that the first real chance was presented, and again it was good work down the Blues right, Cummins holding up well and releasing Alan Carey with a clever ball round the corner, Carey with a fine centre, and David Grincell with the flicked header just over the top. Seven minutes later John Kearney sent another header sailing past the right post from Seamus Long’s hammered cross from deep on the left. Continue reading »

Featured in the match programme this week:

Brendan White talks to Stephen Henderson about the 3rd Round Cup win…

Brian Kennedy looks at some of the stranger stories from around the football world…

We delve into the archives, and answer the question ”Who the hell was Danny Key?”…

Both Me & My Jersey and Interview with a Blues Fan somewhat improbably go from strength to strength…

And all the usual news, views and information.

Read more in Friday’s matchday programme!

Waterford United get back to the bread and butter of the league on Friday night when they host Athlone Town at the RSC (KO 7.45pm), with United looking for victory to take them into the mid-season break on a high note.

Having tasted defeat in their last two league outings, the Blues were glad of the morale-boosting victory over Carrigaline United in the FAI Ford Cup 3rd Round last weekend. Manager Stephen Henderson was delighted to see his side get back to basics as they ran out comfortable 6-0 winners over the Munster Senior League side, and he will be looking for a similar performance level against Athlone this weekend, to cap what has been quite a successful first half of the season. Continue reading »