Conor Clifford signs for the Saints

Former Chelsea youth team starlet Conor Clifford has put pen to paper on a deal with St. Patrick’s Athletic after the 26-year-old saw his contract at Limerick cut short due to financial difficulties on Shannonside.

Clifford joins up with his hometown club, alongside fellow ex-Limerick teammate Brendan Clarke who also left the crisis Premier Division club in the last few days. 

After ten years in England with Chelsea, Notts County, Yeovil Town, Portsmouth, Crawley, Southend, Barnet and Boreham Wood, Clifford signed for Dundalk but will be hoping that he can re-ignite his football career with a promising spell at Richmond Park after a difficult time since his return to Ireland. 

Clifford subsequently signed for Limerick after completing a six month ban from football activities following betting offences committed during his time in the UK.

Speaking with the club’s official media team, Clifford spoke of his delight to have finally secured the deal after his two previous stints at Dundalk and Limerick in League of Ireland football. 

“A couple of us at Limerick were asked to look for new clubs and Liam (Bucklye) got in touch with me,” Clifford revealed.

“Liam said that the team will suit the way that I like to play, and my style of play will suit the way that the team likes to play. They play good football here and I can’t wait to get started!”

Saints boss Liam Buckley also commented on the signing noting that this deal almost came to fruition a couple of months back before the former Chelsea youth team prodigy chose to go Shannonside. 

“I spoke to Conor a couple of months back and budgetary issues from our side of it meant that that he ended up at Limerick,” Buckley said. 

“He’s a top player. I’ve no doubt that he will add to our midfield in relation to how we’re trying to play and he’s well suited to playing out from the back and linking up play so he’s well-polished in that regard.



“We lost Owen Garvan recently, so he will be a big addition!” 

Clifford is unlikely to feature on Friday night for the Saints as they face Dundalk at Richmond Park, but the former Dundalk man will be hoping that he can establish himself in the first-team once he overcomes his recent injury. 

 

 



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