Keith Gillespie signs for Longford

delta_bravo

No this isn't a p*sstake

Longford Town have captured the signing of former Manchester United and Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie.

The winger, who was capped 86 times for Northern Ireland, will remain at Flancare Park until the end of the season.

The 36-year-old has played for a host of clubs including; Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and Sheffield United.

The Antrim man will be officially unveiled as a Town player at their next home game on April 2nd when they take on Athlone Town.

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/5227/


From the lofty heights of United to the doldrums of Longford.

Ronan|Raven

We happen to have very nice doldrums in Longford

Pinturicchio

delta_bravo wrote: »

From the lofty heights of United to the doldrums of Longford.

The same route taken by Dessie Baker.

flas

Pinturicchio wrote: »

The same route taken by Dessie Baker.

and dessie came away with silverware aswell!

good signing and brings lots of experience to the squad, which is very young!

well done tony cousins...

population

For every Ryan Giggs there are two Lee Sharpes

wandatowell

How old is he nowadays??? Fairplay to him for putting in the effort and staying in the game.

MisterAnarchy

wandatowell wrote: »

How old is he nowadays??? Fairplay to him for putting in the effort and staying in the game.

I'd say he has no choice but to keep playing,he was declared bankrupt last year due to gambling debts.
Poor guy is penniless.

The_B_Man

Where was he before Longford?

dreamers75

The_B_Man wrote: »

Where was he before Longford?

glentoran i think

TonyD79

population wrote: »

For every Ryan Giggs there are two Lee Sharpes

Lee Sharpe was class for United for a couple of seasons..think you might have to rethink that one!

Pinturicchio

wandatowell wrote: »

How old is he nowadays??? Fairplay to him for putting in the effort and staying in the game.

36

The_B_Man wrote: »

Where was he before Longford?

Darlington.

godtabh

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

I'd say he has no choice but to keep playing,he was declared bankrupt last year due to gambling debts.
Poor guy is penniless.

Any links to back that up?

wandatowell

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

I'd say he has no choice but to keep playing,he was declared bankrupt last year due to gambling debts.
Poor guy is penniless.

jesus poor b@stard

MrStuffins

The_B_Man wrote: »

Where was he before Longford?

Didn't he get a short term contract at Darlington after begging for a club on Soccer AM? But only played a handful of games?

mike65

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11454176

no mention of how much he owed.

MrStuffins

TonyD79 wrote: »

Lee Sharpe was class for United for a couple of seasons..think you might have to rethink that one!

I think what he meant was, for every young Man Utd player who had a promising future and turned the promise into medal after medal and ended up playing a record amount of games for the club and becoming a legend............ there's 2 guys who started off the same way, with lots of promise, who had some impressive performances for United.......... and then ended up at the bottom of the barrell and appearing on "I'm a Celebrity..Get Me Out of Here"

Kerrydude1981

What a great signing for Longford,wasnt so long ago Gillespie was still playing for Northern Ireland,

WesternZulu

I seen him a few years ago playing a friendly for Sheffield United against Longford in the Flansiro and you could see that night that his heart had been captured by the impressive surroundings.

LuckyLloyd

Eh, he probably isn't playing to a level anymore where he will dominate for Longford Town. Don't expect magic. When players reach this age and are falling down the levels, it is usually because they are failing to cut it at each previous club. He was released by Darlington in December. They are a conference club these days, and it doesn't appear as if he was good enough to start at that level.

If his heart is still in it, the main value he may add will be on the training ground and in the dressing room as a voice of experience to younger players.

If his heart isn't in it, he may be more of a hindrance than a help.

population

TonyD79 wrote: »

Lee Sharpe was class for United for a couple of seasons..think you might have to rethink that one!

Missing my point. Gillespie was class for Newcastle for a couple of seasons coming off the back of initially positive performances at Old Trafford. Sharpe was indeed class for a season or 2. Howerve Giggs is still playing in the top tier whereas Sharpe and Gillespie in this instance faded into obscurity.

flas

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Eh, he probably isn't playing to a level anymore where he will dominate for Longford Town. Don't expect magic. When players reach this age and are falling down the levels, it is usually because they are failing to cut it at each previous club. He was released by Darlington in December. They are a conference club these days, and it doesn't appear as if he was good enough to start at that level.

If his heart is still in it, the main value he may add will be on the training ground and in the dressing room as a voice of experience to younger players.

If his heart isn't in it, he may be more of a hindrance than a help.

we have a very young squad, so hopefully he will be a good influence on the squad!

frantic190

godtabh wrote: »

Any links to back that up?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/bankrupt-exunited-player-gillespies-500000-woes-14973127.html

Just seen someone else posted a link already....

Think he will add decent experience to that Longford squad, most squads in the first division are comprised of young lads.

dundalkbhoy

good luck to the guy.

IvySlayer

Hope he enjoys Flansiro

That_Guy

Always liked Keith Gillespie. Great player for ourselves. I wish him well.

Seaneh

he even gets to make his debut in the 'Irish El Classico' when Longford face midland giants Athlone town.

antomorro-sei

He was terrible for Glentoran

frantic190

antomorro-sei wrote: »

He was terrible for Glentoran

Fairly ineffective against us in the Setanta Cup, but he might do well for Longford, any sort of experience goes far when you have such a young team. Just looking at the squad and the majority of the players are in their early 20s.

aidan24326

Gambling seems to be a problem in football that's not really talked about much. Must be a p1sser to have played for the likes of United and Newcastle and still wind up penniless, when he should be a comfortable millionaire.

MayoForSam

He must have got wind of Michael Lowry's new casino to be built in Tipp and decided to base himself within striking distance.

How the mighty have fallen - didn't he go to Newcastle as part of the deal by Man Utd to sign Andy Cole and people reckoned Newcastle got the best part of the deal :rolleyes:?

stovelid

Had unsuccessful trials for Shamrock Rovers at the start of this season. It was obvious that his good days were long gone although you could still see a faint residue of his skills.

If he generates a bit of a buzz in Longford and provides some experience in the dressing room, why not? Probably on a play-pay deal I assume.

Nalz

population wrote: »

For every Ryan Giggs there are two Lee Sharpes

State of that post!

flas

he is best friends with one of longfords main sponsors and his wages are being sponsored!

theoneeyedman

flas wrote: »

he is best friends with one of longfords main sponsors and his wages are being sponsored!

Who's that?

population

Trilla wrote: »

State of that post!

Well having already explained it once I wont be explaining it any further so I shall just leave my reaction to your post with this:rolleyes:

Pinturicchio

theoneeyedman wrote: »

Who's that?

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