A proud Stratford Town have confirmed on Friday morning that they have managed to sign ex-Championship striker Adam Rooney.
Just last season, he helped Solihull Moors qualify for the National League playoffs, however was released after the side got to the final, which they lost to Grimsby.
Now age 34, the player has dropped down to the lowest tier of his professional career, where he will now compete in the Southern League Premier Division Central.
Stratford Town Football Club, SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, I’M YOURS https://t.co/yxXRMqQgP0 @stisa @herald_sport @strat_observer @BBCCWRSport @WelcombeRadio @NLeagueToday @NonLeaguePaper @SouthernLeague1 @live_coventry pic.twitter.com/U6C8A2HZ8c
— Stratford Town FC (@StratfordTownFC) August 19, 2022
CLUB STATEMENT:
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, I’M YOURS…. Or With mirth and laughter old wrinkles come
Bards Chairman Jed McCrory has had a wide smile on his face all day after signing his key target for the season Adam Rooney.
“No idea what these Shakespeare quotes mean but all I want to do is smile” says the Chairman.
After putting pen to paper and during the photo shoots, Adam was surrounded by children who attended the HAF Summer Camp and the Soccer School this afternoon as they scrabbled to be the first ones to get selfies!
The Chairman said, “The enormity of what we’ve done struck me more when I saw the the reaction of the kids. I’ve never seen anything like that since I’ve been here.
If that is a statement of what this signing is going to do for the community, it continues to show the benefits it is making within the community and that’s a moment (and I’ve had a few) that has put a huge smile on my face.
It’s a credit to everybody at this club and how they make this club feel that we have been able to attract someone of Adam’s professionalism and ability”
He continued, “This is the probably the biggest signing this football club has ever had.
You’ve just got to stand back and say Stratford Town Football Club have just signed Adam Rooney”
He concluded, “What Adam brings to the players and to the changing room, not just the 1st team but to the Reserves and the F&E kids is demonstrating how to conduct you self as a professional and that will rub off on everyone else.
He’s also been a charity ambassador at every clubs he’s been at and hopeful he will continue that here at the Stratford Town.”
Adam is a former Republic of Ireland international, who is a prolific goalscorer and has appeared for a number of clubs including more recently Solihull Moors. He has played for Stoke City, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Aberdeen, Birmingham City, Salford City and had loan spells at Swindon Town, Yeovil Town, Chesterfield and Bury.
In January 2022 Rooney co-launched Good Feel Coffee, an online coffee company supporting mental health and cancer charities
We asked Adam why Stratford Town and why now?
“I was thinking about going part time and Jed rang me up out of the blue and told me the plans for the club and the initiatives that were taking place here and what they are doing for the community and told me to come down and have a look at the place.
So I came down and he sold the club to me. I’m local and it’s somewhere I can bring the kids and they can hopefully watch me scoring some goals.”
Adam admitted he didn’t know too much about the Southern league but he said, “I’m sure I’ll soon figure it out. I know Josh Hawker and I know of the quality within the squad and I expect the league to be tough to be honest. In any league you have to got a prove yourself and hopefully I’ll soon be able to bang in some goals”
When asked if he had a message for the Bards Army fans he said, “Hopefully they get right behind us, can’t wait to get started now, hopefully getting a few goals will help them get behind me.
Just looking forward to being here and getting to know the fans and everyone around the club.”
Adam comes straight into the squad for Saturday’s home game against Hednesford Town. This signing is sure to attract a lot of attention so the advice is to get there early on Saturday and meet fellow Bards Army fans in the Fanzone.
See you there!
ROONEY’S CAREER:
Youth career
Home Farm
Cherry Orchard
Crumlin United
2005–2006 – Stoke City
Senior career
2006–2008 – Stoke City – 15 games (4 goals)
2007 → Yeovil Town (loan) – 3 games (0 goals)
2007–2008 → Chesterfield (loan) – 22 games (6 goals)
2008 → Bury (loan) – 16 games (3 goals)
2008–2011 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle – 103 games (44 goals)
2011–2013 – Birmingham City – 18 games (4 goals)
2012–2013 → Swindon Town (loan) – 29 games (9 goals)
2013–2014 – Oldham Athletic – 24 games (4 goals)
2014–2018 – Aberdeen – 151 games (66 goals)
2018–2020 – Salford City – 70 games (29 goals)
2020–2022 – Solihull Moors – 53 games (13 goals)
2022- Stratford Town
National team
2007–2010 – Republic of Ireland U21
Twitter users reacted as Stratford Town sign the ex-Championship striker…
@maccakilbride1: Welcome ⚽️⚽️
@jimboconnolly77: Should put a few on the gate tomorrow 😀👍
@Moseley3_: Warra signing
@LRbix: What a signing that is.. 👏
@jeo7gee: Fock me budget must be massive 😂👀👀
@Seb_ElJefe: Sensational signing that!
@steevo_08: We am massive #WeGetToLiveHereYouHaveToGoHome
@dan_sweenz: All the best Roons⚽️ @17AdamRooney
@StratTownISA: Welcome to Stratford Adam. Exciting times! Hats off to Jed 👏
@Slatts_Bob80: HMS piss the league
@Joeytaylor123: It’s going to go all tits up one day isn’t it 😂
@Joe_Pace96: What a coup 🤩
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