Advertisement
Garvan during his days at Palace. EMPICS Sport
Homeward Bound

Ex-Crystal Palace midfielder Owen Garvan weighing up League of Ireland offers

The former Ireland U21 international is considering a return to Dublin.

OWEN GARVAN HAS spoken about a potential move to the League of Ireland.

Yesterday, The Irish Sun reported that Bray Wanderers, St Patrick’s Athletic and Limerick were in for the former Ireland U21 midfielder, who is currently a free agent.

Highly-rated from a young age, Garvan joined Ipswich Town from schoolboy club Home Farm in 2004 and worked his way up to their first team — spending a total of six years with the Tractor Boys.

A Ireland international at every level from U15 to U21, the Dubliner was named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s first senior squad to play Serbia in 2008.

He moved to Crystal Palace in 2010 and made 87 appearances while helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League.

However, after loan spells at Millwall and Bolton Wanderers, Garvan was released by Palace and made the switch to League One side Colchester United in the summer of 2015.

They were subsequently relegated to England’s fourth tier and, last season, the midfielder admits growing frustrated with the set-up and the club’s policy of playing a high number of young, inexperienced players.

The 29-year-old parted company with the U’s back in April, and is now weighing up whether to sign for an SSE Airtricity League Premier Division club or try his luck back in England when the transfer window re-opens next month.

“I’ve spoken to a few [LOI] managers and they’ve told me to come out and have a look at the games and see what I think,” Garvan, who attended Tuesday night’s meeting between Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers, told eirSport’s LOI Weekly podcast.

The next step for me is either to stay in Ireland and play football here or go and try find a club in England. I’m still undecided but it’s good to be back to have a break and see family and friends.”

He later added: “If I’m over in England then I want to play big games but if that’s not going to happen then maybe I need to come back and spend more time with my family — I’ve got a lot of nieces and nephews — and also play football.”

Listen to the full interview here 

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Visit of Cork City a ‘must-win game’ in Dundalk’s 4-in-a-row bid

When Ireland met Mexico for the first time and Liam Buckley earned his final cap

Your Voice
Readers Comments
9
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.