Friday, February 24th, 2017
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Referee: David Keeler
Waterford FC begin a new era for the club this Friday evening with the start of 2017 SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign away to Athlone Town.
Since Lee Power’s takeover of the club in November, the management team has been busy putting together a squad for the new season.
That squad, with plenty of Premier Division experience and talented, young players, have hit the ground running with a string of good pre-season performances against Premier Division opposition in Cork City, Limerick, Bray Wanderers and Galway United.
That pre-season preparation can finally be put to work at the Athlone Town Stadium on Friday. The Blues picked up 10 points from 12 on offer against Athlone Town last season.
The club completed the final signings for the first team squad on Wednesday with the additions of Kenny Browne, Derek Daly, Jake Evans, Tom Smith and Ian McLoughlin.
Dave Mulcahy is another to join the squad, the experienced Kilkenny-born player linking up with the club for his third spell. He’s looking for a good start this coming Friday:
“I think that the lads have put together a very good squad and it’s one that will be aiming to get Waterford back in the Premier Division. There is pressure on us but that’s what this team is here for.
“I think that we’ve done quite well in the games that we’ve played. I think that we’ve showed capabilities of what we’re capable of but we now need to bring this to the table in the league.
“There’s great expectations on us this season to do well, so winning on the road would be the ideal start ahead of the visit of Cabinteely the following week. We’ll give it our best shot and see where that takes us but we’ll be taking nothing for granted.”
The Blues management team have no injury concerns ahead of trip to Athlone and will have a full squad to pick from.
