Fitzpatrick to join in January

COLERAINE FC is delighted to announce the signing of Matthew Fitzpatrick on a pre-contract agreement…

The striker has put pen-to-paper on a one-and-a-half-year deal – with the option of a further year – and will join the club in January 2020.

The 25-year-old is currently on the books at Belfast Celtic, formerly Sport & Leisure, and has been in sensational goalscoring form for the Ballymena Provincial League side so far this season. He previously played for Glentoran Reserves and Immaculata.

Fitzpatrick is well-known in the GAA circles having won the Sigerson Cup with St Mary’s Belfast in 2017, before producing a string of superb Championship displays on the inter-county stage in the summer that earned him an Irish News Ulster Allstar nomination.

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney admitted he has been alerted to Fitzpatrick’s capabilities on more than one occasion and has thanked Belfast Celtic for facilitating the transfer.

“Matthew has been on the radar for the last six to eight weeks, we’ve had him watched the last few games and his name just keeps popping up through different people in relation to the level of his performances,” he added.

“We are delighted to get him board, there have been other clubs who have been after him as well, so we are glad to get the business done.

“For Belfast Celtic he generally plays as a striker and he has good physical attributes, but he has also played in midfield, so his versatility appealed to us as well.

“Full credit must go to Stephen McAlorum and Belfast Celtic who have been fantastic throughout this process. They are understanding and very glad to see him get his move to Premiership level.”

The Club can confirm that Fitzpatrick will wear the number 27 shirt.

colerainefc.com will have an interview with our latest recruit published on the club’s official YouTube channel in the coming days.