Dalymount delight as fan favourite Keith Buckley retuns to Bohemians from Bray

Bohemians have continued their impressive off-season recruitment drive with the return of Keith Buckley from Bray Wanderers following one-year spell with Bray Wanderers.

 

Buckley's comes in the wake of Fuad Sule’s move to English League Two side Barnet FC and brings Keith Long’s squad up to 24 for the coming season which kicks off in earnest on February 16th.

 

The 25-year-old tenacious midfielder spent seven years at Dalymount Park prior to his move to the Carlisle Grounds, and he became a cult hero for the Phibsborough outfit.

 

Buckley revealed that he had attempted to engineer a move back to the capital during Bray's well-documented financial problems during the summer and is delighted to have finally got his wish.

 

"It's good to be going home - it felt like it was only a matter of time,” the midfielder told the club's official website.

 



"The moment of realisation for me was going to see Bohs play Dundalk midweek last year.

 

"Seeing all the fans and the reception I got, seeing legends like Turlough O'Connor in the Jameson Bar and staff like Lynn O'Neill around the place, I realised there was no other place I wanted to be.

 

"I missed the place so much, but when I went back it was like I never left. I tried to go back in the summer, so I'm delighted it's finally happened.”

 



 

Buckley paid tribute to the job that Long is doing with the Gypsies and is hoping the season opener at Dalymount Park versus arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers will mark his second coming at the club.

 

"The job Keith Long has done at Bohs is incredible. He demands the best of his players and everyone at the club is buying into it.

 

"There's a good buzz around Dalymount and I'm delighted that I can be a part of it again.”

 

Long added: "This is a great signing for us.

 

“It's no secret that we didn't want him to leave in the first place. He was virtually an ever-present for me before he left, so he is a player and person I hold in high regard.

 

"With Fuad Sule leaving, he is an excellent fit for us to fill that void. They have similarities as players too. They're both diminutive and combative midfielders.

 

"Bucko had a great year with Bray but I don't want to focus too much on the past. This is a fresh start for him now and I think he's more than capable of having an excellent second stint with the club.

 

“It gives the team and the club as a whole a great boost."