Boyle focused on helping a "young talented group"

After suffering relegation from the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division with Dundalk last season, Andy Boyle’s move to Waterford FC was made that little bit easier as the defender will bring much needed experienced to the Blues defence.

Boyle was speaking at the launch of the SSE Airtricity League at the Mansion House in Dublin on Wednesday last and he is now focused on leading the Blues to another good season in the top division after their return to the top flight last season.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star ahead of the new campaign that gets underway with an away trip to Sligo Rovers on this coming Saturday, Boyle said: “Pre-season has gone well to be fair. We’re back since early in the New Year and I feel that it’s gone well.

“We've worked hard over the course of the six weeks leading into the start of the season, but I think that when it comes around to playing Sligo Rovers, we’ll be in a good spot as things have gone well.

“Obviously there’s plenty of minutes and games in the legs. That’s what it’s all about this time of year. When I spoke to the manager, the move to Waterford is something that I really wanted to do and then obviously since my move, the group have been brilliant with me.

“They’ve helped me along the way and I’m really looking forward to next Saturday now and getting going. The manager has mentioned to me about the lack of experience in the squad and I suppose that was one of the reasons about bringing me in was to help the group.

“There's a lot of talented players, and probably a lot of younger players in the group so if I can help in any way, I'm obviously willing to do that. Listen, as I said, there's a talented group here, so I'm here to help them.” 

A NEW CHALLENGE 

Boyle added: “As we found out last year, and probably over the course of the last couple of years, there's no easy games in the League of Ireland, and that's just not a throw away statement that every game is a tough game.

“Obviously, we got to go away to Sligo and we don’t know what condition the pitch will be with the weather over the over the past few weeks, but listen it'll be maybe a keenly contested game. The only thing is that we have to wait until the Saturday to get the season underway, but we’ll get ourselves ready and hone in on what we’re doing.

“It was a difficult situation with Dundalk and obviously, it’s probably out there in the media already to what went on. I don't really want to delve too much into it, but it was difficult on and off the pitch.

“Obviously, the off pitch stuff probably fed into what was happening on the pitch. From week to week, we didn't really know what was going on at once stage as the club was gone, stuff like that.

“It was never going to be easy, but that wasn’t an excuse either. Ultimately on the pitch, we weren't good enough, and that's the reason we got relegated.” 

PERFORMANCE IN KEY 

Boyle, who turns 34 this coming March, is now looking forward to his time with the Blues and has been impressed with what he has seen so far. “The facilities are amazing. When I came down to speak to Keith, he showed me around the place.

“I think it's probably the best facilities in the league, which it's a top draw. We’ve got access to everything down there. You see the facilities for yourself, grass pitches, astro pitches, the gym and stuff so from that point of view, they’re fantastic.

“The fans will play a big part as well. The RSC has always been a great venue and the fans have always got behind the team so they'll play their part this season as well.

“Obviously, it's up to us as the players to give them something to shout about, get them on board and feed off their energy. Every home game is massive. We need to, as I said, produce performances that keep them coming back for more.”