Glentoran sign Stephen Rice until the end of the season

Glentoran FC have confirmed the signature of former Irish underage international Stephen Rice on a deal that will last until the end of the season.

Rice was a free agent having left Longford Town at the end of 2015.

The 31-year-old Dubliner has already played for his new club as he completed just over an hour for the East Belfast side in a recent friendly match against Derry City.

Rice will feature in a midfield that includes former Dundalk FC player Francis McCaffrey at the Glens.

Glentoran Manager Alan Kernaghan, a former Irish international himself, has expressed his delight at Rice’s decision to sign at the Oval.

“I am delighted to have signed a player with such great experience and above all an obvious hunger to play for Glentoran and move us forward.”

Rice has had a decorated career in the League of Ireland. Rice signed for Shelbourne in 2002 having returned home to Ireland following a spell across the water with Coventry City.

He never made an appearance for either club, so he moved swiftly onto Bohemians and spent four years there making well over a century of appearances for the Gypsies.

It was with Shamrock Rovers that he enjoyed the most success. He captained the Hoop’s to two consecutive league titles in 2010 and 2011. In addition, he won two Setanta Cups and a League Cup during his six seasons in Tallaght.

His most famous career moment came when he put Rovers 1-0 in front at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspurs during their incredible Europa League campaign under Michael O’Neill in 2011.

Rice left Rovers in 2013 and has plied his trade with Longford Town for the past two years.

With Longford he won a First Division title in his first season at the club before the Town comfortably finished mid-table last season as well as qualifying for the FAI Cup semi-final.

The midfielder now joins a club who have underachieved in recent seasons and haven’t tasted league success since 2009 when they won it under the stewardship of Alan McDonald.

The club currently lie sixth in the Danske Bank Premiership table, fourteen points off the final European place.

It is not known if Rice will receive international clearance and be registered in time to make his competitive debut for the club away to Ballinamallard United on Saturday.