Paul Rooney has spoken to Club media after sealing his move to Stockton Town.
He opens the conversation by explaining his delight upon his arrival: “I’m happy to be here. I met all the lads last week and I was excited about what they had to say about the club and I can’t wait to get going in a couple of weeks.”
The defender then goes into detail about the relocation that has found him in the North East after spending his career so far down South: “I moved from Ireland to Millwall when I was young, and have been playing down there my whole career so far, but I met my partner down there and she’s from up this way, and it was always easier for a footballer to move away then her to move her career, and move away from her family, and we’re starting our own family now so I’m happy to call the North East my home.”
When discussing what stood out about the Anchors, he provided a glowing compliment by stating: “I heard a lot of good things about Stockton, and meeting with the staff gave off a similar ambition to what I heard at Bromley, and they’re obviously a League One club now, so it sounds like a good place for me to be.”
When looking ahead to his debut season in the Northern Premier League, Rooney states: “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve spent most of my career in the National League and National League South, and I came back from injury with Havant in the Southern League and they always say ‘it’s a lot tougher up North’ but I’m Irish so I like to think I’m hard enough for it.
“The challenge here will be good, and I just want to settle in quickly and get up to my best.”
Closing, Paul assesses what Anchors fans can expect to see from himself on the pitch: “They can see all-out dedication. I will always do my best for the team and never shy away from anything. Always hard work and I love a clean sheet. I was a bit of a fan favourite down at Havant so it would be amazing to win the support over here as it’s an amazing feeling.”
It’s just two weeks until Paul makes his debut, when Stockton welcome Boro Rangers to Teesside on the 7th July to open pre-season.
