Athlone Town sign Dutch trio as league opener looms
Athlone Town have made a number of additions to their squad ahead of their opening league match of the season against Waterford tomorrow night (Friday) – with the arrival of three Dutch players catching the eye.
The club announced the signings of Dutch footballers Noah van Geenen, Quincy Nkansah and Youri Habing at the end of last week.
Habing has most recently played for the U-21 team of Koninklijke HFC, based in Haarlem in the Netherlands. The 19-year-old midfielder scored Athlone’s goal in the 3-1 defeat to Sligo Rovers in last weekend’s pre-season friendly.
A 22-year-old defender, van Geenen has most recently played for RKVV DEM, while Nkansah has joined from Telstar U-21s in the Netherlands.
Athlone have signed striker Thomas Oluwa, who had a brief spell with Northern Irish outfit Larne last year.
Oluwa (21) began his career with the Shamrock Rovers academy in 2018 and went on to make appearances for the first team, before departing the club for Bohemians ahead of the 2021 season.
Athlone Town manager Martin Russell has also added attacker Stephen Kenny and Blackpool native Jackson Hulme to his squad.
Kenny (28) has most recently played with Avondale United in the Munster Senior League but has plenty of League of Ireland experience, having previously played with Cobh Ramblers, Galway United, Limerick, Waterford and Cork City.
Hulme moved to the United States of America last year to play for New Orleans Jesters. Interestingly, he has also competed as a professional boxer.
These signings follow in the footsteps of the arrival of Daniel Dobbin, Andy Spain and Success Edogun.
Dobbin started his League of Ireland career with St Patrick's Athletic. He captained the Inchicore outfit at U-19 level and won the U-19 SSE Airtricity League title in 2020. The 20-year-old right-back then moved to Wexford last season where he made 12 first team appearances for the club.
Spain is a 20-year-old defender who started his career with Shamrock Rovers, and he captained the Hoops U-19s to win the Enda McGuill Cup in 2019. The Kildare native then moved to St Patrick's Athletic in 2020 where he won the U-19 SSE Airtricity League with the Saints that year.
Success Edogun, a former St Pat's Athletic academy player, featured in the First Division for Wexford last season and more recently lined out for Maynooth Town in order to keep up his fitness levels.
With Baylin’s David Brookes no longer involved and Offaly native Scott Delaney having moved to Willow Park, this season’s Athlone Town squad appears unlikely to feature many local faces.
However, Oisin Duffy from Ballinasloe has re-signed for the club. He came through the ranks with Athlone after joining from Ballinasloe Town.
Athlone begin their SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign at home to Waterford tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45pm) - see opening round fixtures below.
SSE Airtricity First Division fixtures
Friday, February 18
Athlone Town v Waterford, Athlone Town Stadium, 7.45pm, Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan, Assistant 1: Trevor Cotter, Assistant 2: Ricky Crean, Fourth Official: Declan Toland.
Bray Wanderers v Cork City, Carlisle Grounds, 7.45pm, Referee: Gavin Colfer.
Wexford v Treaty United, Ferrycarrig Park, 7.45pm, Referee: Oliver Moran.
Saturday, February 19
Longford Town v Cobh Ramblers, Bishopsgate, 7.30pm, Referee: Paul Norton.