Dundalk complete signing of Rogers

New Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers

Dundalk FC this afternoon completed the signing of goalkeeper Gary Rogers from Sligo Rovers.

The 33-year-old arrives at Oriel Park in place of Peter Cherrie, who has departed the Lilywhites after five and a half seasons.

Rogers joins Dundalk after a successful three season spell with Sligo Rovers where he was an integral part of the side which claimed domestic glory in the FAI Cup, the Setanta Cup, beating Dundalk in the 2014 final, and the league title in 2012.

The Bohermeen native brings a wealth of experience to the club having lined out for St Patrick’s Athletic, Galway United, Bray Wanderers, St. Francis, Dublin City and Drogheda United, where he picked up his first FAI Cup medal in 2005.

Rogers is manager Stephen Kenny’s first new signing of the close season as preparations begin for the new season.

Speaking to dundalkfc.com after putting pen to paper, the ‘keeper was understandably pleased to clinch the deal and is looking forward to his new venture at Oriel Park calling it a ‘great honour’.

“It’s great. It really is. To sign for the league champions it’s a great honour to come here. It’s great that Stephen wanted me to come over so I’m delighted to be here. It’s relatively a local club for me. I’m not too far away and I have some family who live around here so it’s a marvellous opportunity. Looking forward to it.

“I had 3 great years at Sligo Rovers. I was lucky enough to win a trophy in each season at the club and I enjoyed my time there. The opportunity to turn Dundalk at this time was too good to turn down and it didn’t take me long to decide.”

Rogers is hoping that his experience will benefit the club and has set his sights on success in Europe.

“Experience is always important at every club. I was lucky enough to play in Europe over the years and hopefully that can help next year. Europe will be a major target for the club next season and possibly qualify for the group stages. Getting through one round of the competition would be huge for the club and it guarantees us at least 3 more games. That’s definitely a major target along with retaining the league title.

“It has to be our focus. It’s very difficult to do – not a lot of teams do it and it’s the sign of a really good team if we can do that.”

Former Dundalk goalkeeper facing €10.5m drugs charge

Van Boxtel in action for Dundalk

A former Dundalk and Leeds United goalkeeper, who had failed to appear in court six years ago while on charges linked to a €10.5m cannabis find, has been arrested.

Officers from the garda national drugs unit arrested 40-year-old fugitive Eddie van Boxtel during an operation in Clondalkin, Dublin, late last week.

Mr Van Boxtel had been on the garda wanted list after he failed to appear at Naas District Court and a warrant for his arrest was issued in July 2008.

The former soccer star, with an address at Sillogue Avenue, Ballymun, is charged with possession of a controlled drug, cannabis resin, and possession for sale and supply, at Castlewarden South, Kill, Co Kildare.

After his arrest, Mr Van Boxtel was brought before Naas court and remanded in custody in Cloverhill Prison to appear in court on Wednesday. He was not awarded bail.

Det Sgt Greg Sheehan told the court that Mr Van Boxtel had false documentation when he was arrested.

Mr Van Boxtel was one of four men arrested by gardai following the seizure of a large cannabis haul at Castlewarden on the Naas dual carriageway and brought before Naas court.

His failure to turn up in court for a scheduled appearance came five months after he had been charged with the offence.

Dutch-born Mr Van Boxtel was a well-known goalkeeper and played with several League of Ireland clubs.

He helped Dundalk to win the league in 1995 and also played with Galway United, Monaghan United, Home Farm and Bray Wanderers.

He also spent a season with Leeds United at the age of 17 but returned home after clashing with his manager.

His most famous sporting moment came when he saved a penalty from Eric Cantona during Dundalk’s friendly with Manchester United in the early ‘Nineties.

Source: Irish Independent