Following some outstanding performances last season by the player, Waterford FC can confirm that midfielder John Martin will remain at the club for 2018 as he prepares to serve the second year of a two-year-deal signed last season.
Kilkenny native Martin, who picked up the Club’s Under 19 Player of the Year Award, emerged as one of the game’s most exciting prospects over the course of the 2017 season and despite strong interest from cross channel clubs, he intends to remain on Suirside for a crack at the Premier Division.
Martin scored an impressive hat-trick in the Blues’ away win against Athlone Town back in June, the only player to notch a treble for the first team last season. His performances also caught the eye of Republic of Ireland Under 19 manager Tom Mohan, who named him in his squad for the Qualifying Phase of European Championships.
Looking forward to the season ahead, Martin said:
“The club is still on a high from last season and it’s great to be able to look forward to Premier Division football in 2018. I’m really looking forward to pre-season and it will be good to get going again.
“There will be a few new faces as well, so I’m looking forward to getting to know them. I was delighted about how last season went for me personally. The hat-trick in Athlone was a real highlight for me. That really got me going and gave me the confidence to push on and play for the first team more regularly.
“I was delighted to get into the Irish setup as well and to be involved in the tournament in Waterford was fantastic. It’s also great to be involved with the linkup between the club and W.I.T. under the Scholarship Scheme, so things are really going well for me.”
Waterford FC First Team Coach, Alan Reynolds added:
“I think that we all saw how good John was last season and it’s great to have him back again ahead of the new campaign. He is a really exciting prospect as we saw during 2017 and I’ve no doubt he’ll kick on again in 2018.
“Players like John are the future of this club and he is another lad who is from this region. He settled into the team well and gelled well with his team-mates. He is a good lad who is willing to learn and we are keen to see him get to work at the highest level next season.”