Sam Bone joins Shels | OneFootball

Shelbourne Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Sam Bone, subject to international clearance.

He will arrive at Tolka Park when the transfer window opens on July 1st 2024. The defender is Damien Duff’s second signing of the summer window and brings a wealth of League of Ireland experience having spent three seasons at Shamrock Rovers, before two seasons at Waterford FC.

An FAI Cup winner with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2021, Bone also enjoyed a spell with Dundalk before moving to the UK where he’s played at Maidstone United since 2022.

The 26-year old is a product of Charlton Athletic’s academy, where he spent three formative years honing his skills.

The centre-half returned to England after six seasons in the League of Ireland and made an impactful debut for Maidstone United in the FA Trophy win against Notts County in January 2023.

He quickly established himself as a key player in the National League side, making 21 appearances by the end of the season and becoming the first player to sign a new deal for the 2023/24 campaign. He went on to make 38 appearances in the season just gone, scoring three goals in the division.

Sam Bone said: “I’m so excited to join the club. The chance to work with the gaffer was a huge opportunity that I’m really excited for having worked with him when I was younger. I obviously played with Joey O’Brien and David McAllister.

“I’ve stayed watching the LOI every Friday while I’ve been in England and I love the energy and where this club is going. I’ve played with a number of lads in the team and some I’m really close with. I saw the video of the fan on the pitch with the lads a while back and it was so powerful.

“I’ve played a number of times at Shels and the place has always been electric. I know it’s a cliche that everyone tends to say but I’m so excited to be a part of it and represent this club. I can’t wait to get going and I will give my everything to hopefully play a role in being successful. I’ve spoken to a number of clubs during my holidays but nothing really excited me until I got in contact with the Gaffer. I can’t wait to get going and playing in Tolka. See you all very soon.”

Damien Duff, Shelbourne FC Manager said: “We are all delighted that Sam has agreed to come back to his adopted country, like Ali. He had many offers here, but agreed to come to Shelbourne FC very quickly which I love. He has tremendous technical ability and can play a host of positions to a very high level. We are all very excited to see Sam represent this Dublin Institution”

Luke Byrne, Shelbourne FC Technical Director said: “Sam has many great attributes and great experience in this league. He has wonderful technical ability and real physicality. I played with Sam and know his character and personality will fit in well with our group. We’re excited to get to work with Sam and we love how keen he was to come and play for us. He showed a real hunger to play for Shelbourne and we value that.”