Waterford United are delighted to have secured the services of goalkeeper Josh Byrne for the 2010 season.

A netminder of immense potential and promise, Josh was key part of the U-20 set-up last season, and was called up to the senior side for the FAI Cup semi-final against Sligo Rovers in October. He will be part of an exciting stable of goalkeeping talent at the RSC for 2010, along with Chris Konopka and Kevin Burns.

He is also an accomplished international, having lined out for Ireland at U-17 level last year, and, more recently, at U-18 Schools level just last Thursday, when he came on a half-time and kept a clean sheet in the 3-1 friendly win over Australia at the Oscar Traynor Road Development Centre in Dublin.

In related news, the final touches have now been put to the paperwork on Chris Konopka’s work permit, and he is due to arrive on Suirside to begin pre-season training this week.

Waterford United have announced three pre-season friendlies to take place over the coming weeks.

On Saturday, February 6th they will play Tralee Dynamos at their Cahermoneen ground, with a 3.00pm kick-off.

On Wednesday February 17th a local derby is on the cards as the Blues make the short trip to Graun Park to take on Tramore AFC, kick-off 7.15pm.

And on the following Saturday, February 20th, the RSC will be the venue as United take on St. Patrick’s Athletic, again with a 3.00pm kick-off time.

Further games have yet to be confirmed.

Jack Pheasey signs up to the new BSC

With the new season fast approaching, it’s now the perfect time to sign up to the Blues Supporters Club for 2010.

The annual sub is just €10, and, as ever, this also comes with a much-covetted membership gift. This year it’s an attractive and very well crafted - and very flash - Blues keyring and fob. Definitely something every Blues fan would want to have! In addition, BSC members get to avail of a very useful discount on away day travel.

The membership form is available for download as a pdf here. Just print it off, fill it in, and return it with payment to the club office at the RSC, or to any of the BSC officials.

At a gala awards night at the weekend, Waterford United received the April 2009 award in the Beat 102-103 FM / Talbot Hotel Carlow South East Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Waterford was the most honoured county at the ceremony, which presented monthly awards to sports people or teams from all of the counties covered by Beat FM: Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and South Tipperary. All twelve monthly winners were considered for the overall Sports Personality of the Year 2009 gong.

The Deise had no less than 5 monthly winners. The Bausch & Lomb Wildcats kicked off the awards in January, the De La Salle hurlers were the February winners, the Blues won the plaudits in April, the then-Bohemians and now Ipswich Town ‘keeper Brian Murphy was the August nominee, and Republic of Ireland, Reading, and former Waterford United striker Noel Hunt was successful in October. But, perhaps inevitably given their outstanding fourth All-Ireland title in a row, it was the Kilkenny hurlers who lifted the overall award.

Blues chairman John O’Sullivan was present to collect the April award on behalf of the team from Larry Bowe, general manager of the Talbot Hotel. Former United striker Noel Hunt also made the trip cross-channel to receive his trophy.

Reading and Ireland striker Noel Hunt is presented with the October award by Larry Bowe, General Manager of the Talbot Carlow

Also this week, Gary Dunphy put pen to paper on an extension of his contract for the 2010 season.

The young midfielder scored the first league goal of the 2009 season for the Blues, a 25 yard screamer in the opening game against Sporting Fingal, and his undoubted abilities with the ball at his feet will add hugely to the options available to Stephen Henderson in midfield for the coming campaign.

pic from corkcity.ie

Waterford United have today completed the signing of Liam Kearney from Derry City.

In  a fantastic coup for the club, the hugely talented midfielder, who turned 27 just a few days ago, arrives on Suirside on a one-year deal, to significantly boost the manager’s attacking options ahead of the new campaign. It is almost a return to his home county for the player dubbed ‘the Conna Maradona’, as he hails from just over the border in East Cork.

Most at home on the left wing, Liam is comfortable anywhere across midfield or in attack, and has vast experience at the top level in the domestic game, as well as at underage level both in the UK and with the International sides.

He won the FAI Under 19 Premier League while at Nottingham Forest, having joined the Tricky Trees from his youth club Valley Rangers, and has been capped for the Republic of Ireland from U-16s upwards. He played in the U-16 European Championships in Israel in 2000, and made the semi-finals in the U-19 Euro Championships in Norway in 2002. He also made 7 appearances for the U-21 International side, scoring on his debut against Italy.

Returning home for the 2004 season with Cork City, Liam went on to win the league title the following season with the Leesiders. Another league winners medal followed with Shelbourne in 2006, and, returning to Turner’s Cross the following year, he saw success in the FAI Cup (2007) and the Setanta Sports Cup (2008), in the final of which, against Glentoran, he scored the winning goal. Last year Liam signed for Derry City, but a broken leg ruined his season and saw him miss their fine European run, but he has since returned fitter and hungrier than ever for success.

pic taken from corkcityfc.ie

Waterford United tonight completed the signing of Gareth Cambridge from Cork City on a one-year deal.

The talented 21-year-old can play on the right wing and up front, and in addition to his footballing abilities, he possesses lightning pace that will be a huge asset to the Blues for the forthcoming season.

Gareth has a First Division Champions medal from his time with Cobh Ramblers, whom he left in July 2008 to sign for Cork City. After a brief spell in the Munster Senior League, he resturned to Turner’s Cross last summer, and played a significant part in the City squad for the remainder of the season.

He has also been capped for the Republic of Ireland at U-19 level.

However he is not related to Blues coach Martin!

Waterford United will play their home matches at the RSC on Friday nights for the 2010 season. Following much discussion between all the interested parties, the Blues will revert to a Friday night kick off with games commecning at 7.45pm.

“The change to Saturday evening was brought about by a desire to improve the preparations for the team,” commented Secretary Ray Scott. “The extra day really helped the manager and the team but we are reverting to Friday evenings in the hope that we can make it easier for our fans to attend our home games!

Season tickets have been selling well and we hope that we can encourage a few more to buy them now that the move back to Friday has been confirmed!”