Transfers

Matthew Tipton has this afternoon signed a deal which will keep him at Oriel Park until the end of the current campaign, subject to International Clearance, while goalkeeper Paul Murphy has also been added to the ranks. The 30-year-old Welsh striker left Macclesfield Town at the end of last season and will now play outside of England for the first time with Dundalk, where he will wear the No10 jersey vacated by the retiring Neale Fenn. The former U21 Wales international played against Ian Foster during his time in the lower leagues, and Foster says that he will provide a “more physical presence” in attack.

Exciting move
“I’m delighted to be here and I’m very excited by the move,” Matthew told dundalkfc.com moments after signing. “It’s a big challenge for me, obviously coming over from England. I have come over here because I think the club can progress and they’re going to be challenging for honours – obviously they were in Europe over the last few weeks, and hopefully we can push on and get into Europe again next season. I’ve played against Wayne Hatswell over the last few years and earlier on in my career against Ian. They’re both good, honest guys who have ambition. It’s a new challenge for me and it’s something that I’ve looked at a couple of times before, and I feel this is going to be a good opportunity for me over here.

Showing ambition
“I had offers off teams in England that I didn’t think had any ambition,” he said. “I was at Bradford City at the beginning of this pre-season, at the beginning of July. They’re a club that were going places but I left because they didn’t offer me a deal. The other teams that were interested, I didn’t feel as if they wanted to achieve anything. They were just happy to plod along in League Two and just stay there. I felt by coming here that I’d be challenging for honours. Initially, it’s until the end of this season, I’ll probably just stay by myself, but looking longer term my wife and two children will probably move over if I stay here. I think I’d like to stay here long term, after speaking with Ian and Hats, and looking at the setup here, I think the club is built for going forward.

Good club
“It looks like a good club,” he continued. “Obviously, the playing surface will always be lovely! There’s not going to be any problem with games being called off here. After my first training session I think it’s a really good surface. They have some in England as well but the few of them that I’ve played on weren’t bedded in as well as this one. It’s more true to life; the artificial grass is a lot shorter so the ball runs a little bit truer. I spoke to the management and they said they wet it prior to games so the ball zips on it and I think it will be really good for a passing game, which is what I’m suited to. I think summer football will sort of suit my style of play. It’s something that I’m going to have to look at and get used to, but I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. Obviously, it’s going to be hard for me in the first couple of games to get up to the speed of it. The little bit of experience might help but we’ll have to take it each game as it comes. We need a result down in Sligo on Saturday, and if the manager calls me to start the game I’m sure I’ll be OK.”

Physical presence
Foster, meanwhile, expressed his happiness with the arrival of Tipton, who landed in Ireland on Wednesday evening before signing on Thursday afternoon. “I have played against Matthew an awful lot and I’ve seen him play for years now, so I know what he’s about,” Foster said. “We’re delighted to be able to get him on board. He will give us a more physical presence. He’s not your 6ft2 striker but he’s big enough and strong enough, and he gets hold of things and he brings other strikers into play. And importantly he nicks goals as well. He’s an excellent pro and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Career path
Tipton began his career at Oldham Athletic, moving up through the youth ranks, eventually making his debut at just 17. During that period he also played a number of games for the Wales U21 side. In 2002, he moved to League Two side Macclesfield, where he enjoyed his most prolific spell. This was followed by a brief spell with Mansfield Town, before he moved back to the North-West of England with Bury, before he returned to Macclesfield. Tipton then dropped out of the Football League and joined Conference North outfit Hyde United. A season later he transferred to Droylsden, where he scored the only goal in a giant-killing win over league side Darlington. Twelve months ago he made a third comeback at Macclesfield, where he was an ever-present before being released at the season’s end.

Murphy added
Dundalk have also today signed goalkeeper Paul Murphy who returns to the club after a six-year absence. The 25-year-old played with Leeds United and Leicester City in England before returning to his hometown when Jim Gannon brought him to Oriel Park in August 2004. A short spell here was followed by time at Newry City, Portadown, Ballymena United, Newry again, Cliftonville, Lisburn Distillery and most recently Drogheda United where he spent the first half of this season. “I’m delighted to be back, it has been a long time,” Murphy told dundalkfc.com. “I nearly signed last summer but that fell through at the last minute, but, as I said, I’m very happy to be back here. It’s brilliant to be back with my hometown club. I know coming from Drogheda it’s a little bit of a step, but I’m delighted. Dundalk are flying at the moment so I’ve been looking forward to maybe getting the chance to come back over the last couple of years.

Proving worth
“I enjoyed my half a season at Drogheda,” he added. “I didn’t play as much as I would have liked to play. I played maybe 12 or 13 games. I felt I done OK in some games and maybe in others I didn’t do so well because I haven’t had much match practice since I finished in the north last year. It’s starting to come back now slowly but surely, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the training here and proving my worth and hopefully pushing Peter (Cherrie) for a place. I played with Peter all of last summer when I was here for around six or seven weeks and he is top quality, and you’d be doing well to dislodge him. It’s good competition and that’s what it’s all about. You need someone to push him and somebody to push me as well, even if it’s just in training, and I’ll be behind him all the way.” Commenting on his new netminder, Foster said: “It’s great to bring Paul to the club. It is important that we have two goalkeepers and it will add competition for places. Following Matt Gregg’s departure, I’m very happy to get a local lad in, and like Matthew Tipton, I look forward to working with him.”