Doherty delivered

Cliftonville Football Club are very pleased to announce the signing of Gerard Doherty.

The former Derry City goalkeeper, who was most recently with Finn Harps, put pen to paper at Solitude following this afternoon’s Danske Bank Premiership victory over Larne – much to the delight of Manager Paddy McLaughlin.

“I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to bring Gerard in,” he said.

“He’s played at very high level right throughout his career and will add to the competition we have among our goalkeepers, which is very important.

“He’ll drive standards among everyone in the dressing room and, with a squad as young as ours is, that kind of experience can be invaluable to everyone.”

After beginning his career with his hometown Club Derry, Doherty – who was capped at Under-18 level by the Republic of Ireland – had a stint at Derby County before spending six years with Welsh Premier League side The New Saints, which included a loan spell with another of Cliftonville’s one-time European opponents, Barry Town United.

A decade back at Derry then followed ahead of the now 41-year-old’s first taste of Irish League football with Crusaders, since when he has been back in the League of Ireland with Finn Harps prior to today’s switch to the Reds.