Gledhill completes move to Cork City

Cork City have confirmed the signing of former Portsmouth, Stoke City and Sligo Rovers keeper Matthew Gledhill for the 2014 campaign. 

20 year-old Gledhill had been on trial with the club during pre-season and joins the side from Sligo following a FAI Cup winning spell with the Bit O’Red. 

An exciting youth prospect at Portsmouth, he was let go due to the club’s financial difficulties and joined Premier League side Stoke where he played sparsely due to recurring injury troubles. 

Gledhill is delighted with the prospect of joining his hometown side and sees exciting times ahead. Realising a childhood dream was simply too good an opportunity to turn down,  

Speaking to CorkCityfc.ie, he said: “I’m delighted to sign. It’s my hometown club and I always wanted to play for Cork City at some stage in my career, so I’m happy that it’s so soon. I used to go to Turner’s Cross when I was young and watch the lads playing, so I am excited to sign; I have a good feeling about the season ahead.” 

The youngster is under no illusions though that competition for a starting slot will be fierce: “I spent a couple of months at Sligo, so I got a feel for what the league is like. I want to do as well as I can. Nults (Mark McNulty) is a great keeper and has been for years. He has been at the club for a long time and I know it will be hard to force my way in, but I want to push for a place in the team.”

His new boss John Caulfield believes Gledhill has all the attributes to be a top keeper given the chance:  “He has been training every day with us. He has all the attributes to be a very good goalkeeper; he’s only 20 and he is still learning the game and he needs to be involved more, so hopefully throughout the season he will get that.”