Peter Cherrie has reigned for FAI Cup holders Dundalk ahead of the 2021 SSE Airtricity Premier League season.
37-year-old Cherrie, was an ever present for Derry City last season, returns for his second spell at the club after spending five years at Oriel Park between 2009 and 2014.
“It’s absolutely brilliant to be back,” declared Cherrie who has made over 200 appearances for the Lilywhites, picking up SSE Airtricity League and EA Sports Cup winners’ medals during the 2014 campaign.
“If you had said this to me a month ago I’d have said there was no chance it would ever happen but when I got the call I was delighted” smiled Cherrie.
The Scot will provide competition for fellow new arrival Alessio Abibi and Cherrie is determined to push the Albanian hard to secure the number one spot.
“It’s never been in my nature to come and sit on the bench” said Cherrie. “It’s just not in me. If that day comes, then I may as well retire”.
“I’m here to push every single day and work every single day and I’ve told the coaching staff that. I might only have a couple of years left so I’ll be treating every day like it’s my last.”
After moving on at the end of that season, he enjoyed spells north and south of the border with Cliftonville, Bray Wanderers, Cork City and Derry City before making his return to a place he considers home.
“There’s loads of familiar faces still around” added Cherrie. “Stephen McDonnell is doing the youth side, Liam Burns is doing his community thing and there’s lads like Andy Boyle, Pat Hoban and Chris Shields who I played with in 2014 so it’s great to be back with them."
