First Division Forward Foley Links Up In Loan Deal

Foley on international duty for the Republic of Ireland

The tall front runner joins the Shrimpers after much speculation as to who Newman would be bringing in. Talk centred around 22-year-old Basingstoke hot-shot Jamie McAllister, who is also being tailed by Second Division Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town. However, eventually it was Republic of Ireland international talent Foley who has made the switch, albeit a short term move.

The 26-year-old Cork-born forward has not appeared in the Watford side for over a month, but comes to Roots Hall with a decent enough strike rate. In a career that has spanned the likes of Wolves and Swindon, Foley has notched 12 goals from only 33 starts, with another 57 substitute appearances thrown in. During his stop-start career he has failed to regularly hold down a starting position, and so he now turns to the Shrimpers as they bid to climb the Third Division table.

With number one striker Tesfaye Bramble out for three weeks with a mixture of a suspension incurred after being sent off against Hull City nine days ago and an eye infection inflamed by contact lenses, and other target man Graeme Jones, who has so far struggled to recapture the form that saw him smash 32 goal home in one season for Wigan Athletic, Foley is seen as the taller partner for one of three nippy forwards already at the club - Mark Rawle, Barrington Belgrave and Mark Salter.

Dominic Foley

Factfile

Current Club: Watford
Age: 26
Height: 6 feet, 1 inch
Weight: 12 stones, 8 pounds
Birthplace: Cork
Nationality: Irish
International Record: 6 caps, 2 goals


Career Statistics

1st August 1994 - 30th August 1995: St. James' Gate (no appearance information available)
31st August 1995 - 9th July 1999: Wolverhampton Wanderers (4 starts, 23 substitute appearances; 3 goals)
24th February 1998 - 25th April 1998: Watford [loan] (2 starts, 6 substitute appearances; 1 goal)
11th December 1998 - 31st December 1998: Notts County [loan] (3 starts; 0 goals)
9th July 1999 -: Watford (14 starts, 24 substitute appearances; 6 goals)
25th October 2001 - 25th November 2001: Queens Park Rangers [loan] (1 start; 0 goals)
11th January 2002 - 11th February 2002: Swindon Town [loan] (5 starts, 2 substitute appearances; 1 goal)
28th March 2002 - 21st April 2002: Queens Park Rangers [loan] (2 starts, 2 substitute appearances; 1 goal)

This Season

Total Appearances: 16 (League 15, League Cup 1)
Starts: 7 (League 6, League Cup 1)
As Substitute: 9 (League 9)
Goalscoring: 4 goals (League 3, League Cup 1) [strike rate: 0.25 goals per game]
Discipline: 1 red card, 2 yellows

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com