Benson signs for Derry City as new challenge awaits
Athlone native Robbie Benson has signed for Derry City ahead of the 2025 League of Ireland season.
Confirming the signing of Benson today (Monday), Derry City FC pointed to Benson's considerable experience and the medals he has won during his career.
The experienced midfielder has over 300 League of Ireland appearances and won three Premier Division titles and the FAI Cup at Dundalk, before adding another cup winners medal with St Patrick’s Athletic.
Benson also enjoyed some memorable occasions with Dundalk in European competition and he scored a stunning goal against Legia Warsaw in a Champions League play-off in 2016.
From Mayfield Grove in Athlone, Benson played schoolboy football with St Francis, before playing for Athlone Town and UCD.
Benson played over 30 games for Dundalk last season, but the Louth club suffered major financial difficulties and were relegated to the First Division. The Athlone man was one of the players coveted by a number of Premier Division clubs, but it is the Candystripes who have secured his services.
Derry finished fourth last season and will be hoping to be among the contenders for the Premier Division crown in 2025.
Benson is well known for chipping in with goals from midfield, and he scored four times for a struggling Dundalk side during the 2024 season.
Derry City City manager Tiernan Lynch expressed his satisfaction at securing the signature of Benson.
“Robbie is gonna be an unbelievable asset to this club and he probably might not get the attention of others, but I think he’s one with a vast amount of experience in the League of Ireland, has league/cup medals already in his pocket and has played in major games,” said Lynch.
“He’s a great character, a lad that’s a real winner and he’s here for one reason, he wants to win and he sees Derry City as a good opportunity to do that,” added Lynch.
Derry City have been in the news during recent days, having been given permission by the GAA’s Central Council to use Derry GAA’s Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg as a temporary training base.