WhiteBox Group named as new Blues main partner as retention list is confirmed

In a week that saw Waterford FC unveil the WhiteBox Group as their main front of jersey partner for the 2025 season in place of DG Foods Limited, the club have also confirmed their retention list with a number of familiar faces leaving and staying at the club.

After a strong first year back in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division in 2024, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski, and Padraig Amond all head into their second season with the club after an impressive first 12-months at the RSC.

Ryan Burke heads into his third season as a Blue after a successful first two years with the club, making a name for himself in the full-back position, while Kyle White heads into his first full year as a Blue, after signing from Fleetwood Town at the back end of the 2024 summer transfer window.

Academy graduates Adam Queally, Calum Costello, Jason Healy & Ronan Mansfield all remain tied with the Blues first-team having signed professional deals over the course of the last 12 months, with all earning international call-ups throughout 2024. The club have also confirmed that Ben McCormack, Darragh Leahy and Dean McMenamy are remaining on board for 2025.

RETURNING FOR 2025 Adam Queally Calum Costello Grant Horton Jason Healy Kacper Radkowski Kyle White Padraig Amond Ryan Burke Ronan Mansfield (On loan at Fleetwood Town FC) Ben McCormack Darragh Leahy Dean McMenamy OFFERS OF EXTENSION Darragh Power Rowan McDonald RELEASED Christie Pattisson Connor Evans Connor Parsons Dean Larkin Gbemi Arubi Joseph Forde Niall O’Keeffe Robbie McCourt Sam Bellis LOANS RETURNING TO THEIR PARENT CLUBS Barry Baggley Louis Jones Kacper Skwierczynski Sam Glenfield DEPARTING FACES The Club remains in contract negotiations with players following the end of the 2024 season, and further updates will be provided in due course including goalkeeper Sam Sargeant, but it’s unlikely that he’ll remain a Blue for 2025.

They’ve also confirmed the departures of Christie Pattisson, Connor Evans, Connor Parsons, Dean Larkin, Gbemi Arubi, Joseph Forde, Niall O’Keeffe, Robbie McCourt, and Sam Bellis following the expiration of their contracts.

Dean Larkin and Niall O’Keeffe depart the club having spent large parts of their careers with the Blues, coming up through the ranks of our underage academy.

Christie Pattisson and Connor Parsons were both members of our promotion winning side at the end of 2023, as the Blues earned promotion back to the top-flight of Irish football with a 2-1 extra-time win over Cork City FC.

Connor Evans, Gbemi Arubi, Joseph Forde, and Robbie McCourt all joined the Blues at the start of 2024 ahead of our Premier Division return, with Barry Baggley and Kacper Skiwerczynski returning to their parent clubs along with summer loanees Louis Jones & Sam Glenfield.

Waterford FC would like to thank all departing players for their efforts during their time at the club and wish them every success in the next chapter of their careers.

Waterford FC Head Coach Keith Long travelled to Poolfoot Farm in Fleetwood last week as preparations for the 2025 League of Ireland season got underway, with focus turning straight towards the 2025 kick-off next February.

REFRESHING THE SQUAD Waterford FC owner Jamie Pilley thanked those who have moved on today, along with giving the fans an update on what to expect in the coming weeks.

In a statement on the club website, Pilley said: “After a successful couple of years, we feel now is the perfect time for us to refresh the squad and look forward to another season in the Premier Division.

“We see some really good servants of the club departing today, but are delighted to have extended the contracts of a number of really key players.

“I’d like to thank all the departing players for the commitment and professionalism during their time at Waterford FC, and wish them well for the future. Special mentions go to Connor Parsons who scored that wonderful goal in the play-off final last season, a moment that I’ll remember forever, and Niall O’Keeffe who has been an outstanding servant coming through the Academy. Both will be fondly remembered and always welcome back to the club with open arms.

“Looking forward, the hard work has already started to re-build a squad capable of competing at the right end of the Premier Division table. We were delighted to welcome Keith Long and David Breen to Fleetwood last week to discuss plans for the coming season and to steal a march on recruitment.

“We are close to announcing a number of new (and maybe a couple of familiar) faces in the coming days. We will also continue to strengthen the links between the Blues and our English club Fleetwood Town by delivering the best possible loan players over to Ireland this season, like we have successfully in recent seasons with the likes of Barry Baggley, Maleace Asamoah and Sam Glenfield.

“Finally, I’d like to personally thank you for your support this season, we achieved the aim of staying in the top flight. Our next task will be closing the gap on the big clubs towards the top of the table in the coming seasons. See you all back at the RSC soon!”