WHERE
ARE THEY NOW ?
WHERE
ARE THEY NOW ?Over the past five years or so, Dundalk have had various players from cross channel that have came into the club on a short term basis, sometimes only for a month or so. Well, Oriel Web has decided to try and track some of these players down - to see how the careers of these guys developed after they left Oriel Park. This is only a small selection. Many could not be tracked down at all, but if you have any requests I'll try and find out some more info !
Brought in by John Hewitt, Fridge played in goals at Oriel for one whole season before moving back to his native Scotland. He joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and has been at that club since then. He was mainly reserve keeper, but has had spells as the fist choice keeper. However, it seems as though his spell at the club could be coming to an end with the Thistle manager admitting he is now willing to accept offers for the popular, if erratic netminder
Scottish defender who came on loan to Dundalk from Celtic five years ago for a month. At the time, he was believed to have a great future ahead of him at Parkhead, having captained the reserve side. He made a big impression at Dundalk, but never made the breakthrough at Celtic. He went to Greenock Morton for a spell, and had a trial at Partick Thistle before moving onto Stirling Albion where he was immediately made captain. Is rated highly and looks like he will do alright for himself at that level
Nathan Wigg was the best pre season player Dundalk ever had ! Eddie May made a double signing when put in charge of Dundalk, signing Wigg and Steve Williams from Cardiff City. A midfielder Wigg promised a lot but never really got going once the season started and failed to impress. Eventually, he was released by then manager, Jim McLaughlin. Perhaps if May had stayed things would have worked out differently. Wigg eventually ended up in English non league with Forest Green Rovers and after a spell there moved onto Gloucester Town. He was doing well there until a financial crisis led to some of the better players being released - Wigg being one of them. He went back to his native Wales, and now plays his club football with Cymbran Town, a side that is no stranger to European competition
Left sided defender who joined Dundalk during the Hewitt era, and ended up staying when Eddie May took charge with his last game for the club being in the promotion-relegation playoff against Waterford United. After leaving Dundalk, Raynes went back to Scotland where he again has been around the lower division Scottish clubs. He first went to Livingston and Forfar before spending a couple of seasons at Brechin City. He now plays part time for for Cowdenbeath in Scottish Division Two.
I'm not sure if many even remember this guy ! He joined us from a non league English club during the relegation season of 1998/99. A small pacy striker, he played two games but was absolutely crap and nowhere near good enough for the level required. So he was sent back home with little fanfare. Well, he has made his way to former League club Maidstone United who now play in the Bass Brewers Kent League ! Sinden has found his scoring touch again, and has been banging in the goals for Maidstone for several seasons
Shane was a fan favourite at Dundalk, and spent a few seasons at Oriel making the right back position his own. After relegation, he left the club to make the short trip to Newry where he took part in their Inter Toto Cup adventure. After a spell there, he made the move to Ards following the money of the same team which took him to Newry. He is now an established player in the centre of midfield, and gets on the scoresheet now and again. Seemingly a different player to the one which lined out at right back for the Lilywhites
Midfielder who arrived on loan around the same time as Morrison back in 95/96. Did ok in his short time at the club, but was not kept on permanently. Difficult to keep track of what happened him then. He moved to Brechin City eventually, and was there in the 1999/2000 but left the club after that season and unsure what has happened to him since then.
Scottish central defender who joined the club for the second half of the 1997/98 season under Jim McLaughlin and proved to be popular with the fans. Also played some games in midfield and featured in the 2-1 live TV win over Shels on the last day of the season. However, a full time move to Dundalk could not be agreed so he went back to Scotland and joined St Mirren. Things didn't go to well there but he stuck it out for over a year before starting a tour of lower Division clubs. Went to Clydebank, but was released by them and joined Queen of The South where he has most recently been playing his football. However, he does not feature on the player profiles on their official site and may well have left the club. Where next for Ronnie and his outrageous shirts ?
Hopefully I'll be able to do another edition of this sometime in the future. If you have any particular favourites and wonder what happened to them then post it on the message board !