Drogs sign Dean Williams

Drogheda United added to their attacking ranks with the capture of exciting forward Dean Williams. 

The striker spent the second half of the 2021 season on loan at Longford Town, netting five times for The Midlanders. He now links back up with Daire Doyle for the 2022 season as the former Town manager is now second in command at Head in the Game Park.

Williams began his career with Belvedere before progressing through the Shamrock Rovers underage teams. He started the 2019 season on loan at Athlone Town where he scored the winner in the Leinster Senior Cup against Drogheda’s rivals Dundalk, a year after his Hoops debut in the same competition. 

After netting eight league goals for Athlone in the first half of the season, he spent the second half at the Carlisle Grounds where he scored a further seven strikes - including a hat trick against former side Athlone Town and a brace against current employers Drogheda United.

The 2020 season saw Williams alternate between the First and Premier Divisions as he spent time with both the Shamrock Rovers II side and the senior outfit. Highlights during the season included scoring the first sudden death penalty in the shootout against Ilves Tampere and netting the final goal in Rovers’ 6-1 Premier Division win against Waterford FC. 

In 2020, he made 17 first team appearances for Rovers’ first team and six appearances in the First Division with the Rovers II side. He began the 2021 season with Shamrock Rovers and made ten number of substitute league appearances before his loan switch to Bishopsgate. He has now made a permanent move away from Tallaght Stadium.

“I spoke to Kevin Doherty, he was the first one to contact me, and it didn’t take much convincing to make me sign for Drogheda," said Williams speaking to his new club's media team.

"I also know Daire, and I have a good relationship with him so I just can’t wait to get started.

“I felt like it was time. I’ve been at Rovers now the last couple of years after my first loan moves with Athlone and Bray,” Williams said.

“I done well but I think at this stage in my career, it’s time to move on now. As I said, I spoke to Kevin, he really likes me, I can’t wait to get going and playing games for Drogheda United next season.

“The loan moves were brilliant for me, the experience I got last year with Longford. The experience I got with them is going to help me further in my career. I think I done really well with all the loan moves, even a couple of years ago with Athlone and Bray, scoring goals."

Speaking to his club’s media, on droghedaunitedfc.com, manager Kevin Doherty was full of praise for his new signing, “Delighted to have him. Really, really exciting signing for us, for the club. He’s a goalscorer, his movement is fantastic, he’s sharp, he can finish. It’s an excellent signing for the club. 

“There was a lot of interest in him, but we’re delighted to have him. I’m looking forward to getting him into the group when we get going in the next couple of weeks.”

“It’s an important phase of his career, where he’s making a permanent transfer now. Shamrock Rovers were very good to him, the learning he got there, and going out on loan to Athlone, Bray and Longford have all been step ups every single time.

"Hopefully this is another one for him. It’s a permanent transfer to us, a Premier Division club so it’s the next step up in his career. I spoke to him a couple of times and his enthusiasm for it is infectious.”

FAI confirm nine-team First Division for 2022 https://t.co/t6HxGUsJrtpic.twitter.com/Itua2fljdx

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 17, 2021