Player Transfers January 2016

2014/15 - 2015/16 -2016/17

- Club Appearances - Transfers (summer 2015 - January 2016) - Cups, Ups & Downs -

Northern Ireland players on the move...

Permanent Transfers
Rory Patterson (FC United to Derry City) BBC
Jonny Steele (ex-Minnesota United to Ottawa Fury) FuryFC
Philip Lowry (Derry City to Portadown) BBC
Shane Ferguson (Newcastle United to Millwall) BBC
Michael McLellan (H&W Welders to Linfield) BBC
Chris Johns (Bangor to Coleraine) CFC
Colin Nixon (Bangor to Larne) LFC
Ryan Brobbel (Whitby to TNS) Shropshire Star 

Loan Deals
Jeff Hughes (Cambridge to Tranmere) BBC
Ivan Sproule (Linfield to Ballinamallard) BBC
Robbie McDaid (Leeds to Lincoln) IrishFA
Luke Conlan (Burnley to Morecambe) Lancashire Evening Post
Chris Hegarty (Linfield to Dungannon) LFC
Lee Hodson (MK Dons to Kilmarnock) BBC

Pre-Contracts
Michael Gault (Portadown to Crusaders) BBC

Released
Jamie Sendles-White (Hamilton Academical) AcciesFC

Alex Bruce

Name: Alex Stephen Bruce
Born: 28 September 1984, Norwich (England)
Height: 5.09 ft (1.75 m)
Weight: 11.04 st (71.66 kg)
Position: Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Full Caps (2013-14); Republic of Ireland: 2 Full Caps, B, Under-21.
Club Honours: (with Hull) Football League Championship Runner-Up 2012/13 (promoted); FA Cup Runner-Up 2013/14.

Club Career:
Teams..... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Manchester United ........... Youth ..0(0)/0
Blackburn Rovers ............ Youth ..0(0)/0
Oldham Ath 04/05 ..... Dec-04 .Loan ..3(3)/0 1(0)/0 ...... 1(0)/0
Birmingham 04/05-06/07 Jan-05 .Free ..3(3)/0 4(2)/0
Oldham Ath 04/05 ..... Jan-05 .Loan ..5(1)/0 1(0)/0 ...... 1(0)/0
Sheff Wed..04/05 ..... Mar-05 .Loan ..8(1)/0 
Tranmere R 05/06 ..... Aug-05 .Loan .10(1)/0 ...... 0(1)/0
Ipswich T..06/07-09/10 Aug-06 .Free 112(3)/2 5(1)/1 6(0)/0
Leicester. 09/10 ..... Feb-10 .Loan ..2(1)/0 ............. 4(0)/0
Leeds Utd. 10/11-11/12 Aug-10 ...... 29(0)/1 2(0)/0 2(0)/0 
Hudd'field.11/12 ..... Nov-11 .Loan ..3(0)/0
Hull City .12/13-16/17 Jul-12 .Free 74(11)/1 7(1)/0 6(2)/0 2(1)/0
Wigan Ath. 16/17 ..... Jan-17 .Loan ..0(2)/0 
Bury ..... 17/18 ..... Aug-17 .Free ..2(0)/1 
Wigan Ath. 17/18- date Aug-17 .Free

Biography:

(courtesy of John Floyd)

Son of former Manchester United defender, Steve, Alex Bruce currently plays for Hull City where his father is manager.

A controversial selection for the Northern Ireland squad in October 2012, Bruce had previously rejected a Northern Ireland call-up, preferring instead to represent the Republic of Ireland. Having won two friendly caps for the south he became frustrated by his lack of opportunities and agreed a switch to the north with Nigel Worthington in the summer of 2011.

Northern Ireland Full Cap Details:
06-02-2013 Malta. A D 1-1 FR
05-03-2014 Cyprus A D 0-0 FR

Summary: 2/0. Won 0, Drew 2, Lost 0.

Rory Donnelly

Name: Ruaridhri Donnelly

Born: 18 February 1992, Belfast

Height: 6.02ft (1.88m)

Weight:

Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Under-21 Cap (2013).
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2011/12.
Awards: League Two Player of the Month Jan-15.

Club Career:

Teams ..... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Europe Other

Clift'ville 10/11-11/12 .......Youth 49 (-)/20 ...... 5(-)/2 2(-)/0

Swansea C. .11/12-14/15 Jan-12 Undis .0 (0)/ 0 ...... 0(1)/0 1(0)/0 
Coventry C. 13/14 ..... Jan-14..Loan .0 (0)/ 0
Tranmere R. 14/15 ..... Jan-15..Loan 15 (5)/ 5
Gillingham. 15/16-16/17 Jun-15 .Free 35(31)/12 1(2)/0 1(1)/0 3(1)/0
Clift'ville 17/18- date Aug-17 .Free

Biography:

Rory Donnelly's stunning early season form in 2011/12 saw him earn a move from Irish League Cliftonville to Premier League Swansea, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton also reportedly interested. 

Included in both Northern Ireland Under-21 and senior squads, he was capped for the first time in an Under-21 friendly against Denmark in August 2013.

Donnelly's debut in full-time football came as a substitute against Crawley in the League Cup in September 2012. It was nearly a year until his second Swans appearance as he started a Europa League match at Petrolul Ploiesti. In January 2014 he was sent to Coventry on loan but stayed just a few days before returning to the Liberty Stadium having not played a game. Having also been plagued by injuries, he was again sent out on loan mid-way through the 2014/15 season, joining Tranmere. He scored his first senior goals since leaving Cliftonville against Accrington Stanley in his first start. Three goals in as many starts brought him the January League Two Player of the Month award.

Donnelly was released by Swansea at the conclusion of his loan spell at Tranmere. He then signed for Gillingham on a two-year contract.

More to follow.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
14-08-2013 Denmark H L 1-4 FR

Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Mark McChrystal

(c) unknown

Name: Mark McChrystal
Born: 25 June 1984, Londonderry
Height: 6.01 ft
Weight: 13.07 st
Position: Defender


Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 9 Under-21 Caps (2004-2006), Under-19, Schoolboy (2000)
Club Honours: (with Derry) FAI Cup Runner-Up 2008; League of Ireland Cup Winner 2008; (with Bristol Rovers) Football Conference Play-Off Winner 2014/15.

Club Career:
Teams............. --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Europe Other
Tristar ............................. Youth
Wolverhampton W. .................... Youth ..0(0)/0
Bradford City .... 02/03 ..... Apr-03 .Loan ..0(0)/0
Derry City........ 2003 - 2006 Apr-03 .Free .50(-)/1* ............ 1(0)/0
Institute......... 03/04 ..... Aug-03 .Loan ..1(0)/0 ...... 4(0)/0 ...... 1(0)/0
Partick Thistle... 06/07 ..... Jan-07 .Free .13(2)/1 2(0)/0
Derry City ....... 2007 - 2009 Aug-07 .Free .34(5)/1
Huddersfield Town ............ Sep-09 Trial ..0(0)/0
Crewe Alexandra .............. Oct-09 Trial ..0(0)/0
Lisburn Distillery 09/10 ..... Nov-09 .Free ..3(0)/0
Derry City ....... 2010 ...... Jan-10 ..... .29(1)/3
Tranmere Rovers .. 10/11-12/13 Jan-11 .Free .38(3)/1 ...... 1(0)/0 ...... 2(0)/0
Scunthorpe United. 12/13 ..... Nov-12 .Loan ..3(0)/0
Bristol Rovers ... 12/13-16/17 Jan-13 .Free 107(7)/0 4(0)/0 1(0)/0 ...... ......8(0)/1
Crusaders ........ 17/18- date Jul-17 .Free
* All domestic games.

Biography:
In the early 2000s Wolves had a strong Northern Ireland contingent among their youth ranks - Sammy Clingan, Mark Clyde, Andrew Dickson and Mark McChrystal were all on the fringes of the senior team at Molineux.

A strapping left-sided centre-back, McChrystal had won Schoolboy caps while at St. Columb's College in his native Derry and added Under-18 honours while with Wolves. He was released by Wolves in 2003 and returned home to join Derry City. He initially struggled to make an impact at the Brandywell and for the start of the 2003/04 season made the short move to Institute on a three month loan. He played six times at right-back for Stute before the loan spell was cut short by injury.

Back at Derry, McChrystal slowly established himself in the firstteam squad, filling in at left- or right-back as well as in his preferred central defencive role. He established himself in the Northern Ireland Under-21 team, becoming captain, even when not assured of a starting place with his club side.

McChrystal was released by Derry in December 2006 having been identified as surplus to requirements. Within a few weeks he was playing for Partick Thistle in the Scottish First Division. He made his Jags debut in a 2-0 defeat by Clyde on 2nd January 2007 and was a regular through to the end of the season. He scored his only goal in a 4-3 defeat by Queen of the South as Partick almost came back from 4-0 down. McChrystal was released at the end of that season by new manager, Ian McCall.

McChrystal returned to Derry City in August 2007 and the following year he collected his first major honours, a winner's medal in the League Cup as Wexford Youths were routed 6-1 and a runners-up medal following an FAI Cup Final penalty shoot-out defeat by Bohemians.

In September 2009 McChrystal, unhappy with his limited firstteam chances after returning from a broken cheekbone, negotiated an early release from his Derry contract, the Candystripes being only too happy to offload players as their financial straits became clearer. He joined Huddersfield on trial but after three weeks he was unable to secure the hoped for move. There followed another trial with Crewe which proved equally fruitless before he joined Lisburn Distillery on a short-term deal.

McChrystal returned to Derry City in January 2010 as the demoted side gained an instant return to the League of Ireland Premier Division. In January 2011 he joined Tranmere Rovers on a six-month deal.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
18-08-2004 Switzerland.... H D 0-0 FR
08-02-2005 Scotland....... H W 2-1 FR
16-08-2005 Rep. of Ireland H D 2-2 FR
06-02-2006 Israel......... A W 1-0 FR
28-02-2006 Wales.......... A W 1-0 FR
12-04-2006 Leichtenstein.. A W 4-1 ECQ
10-05-2006 Leichtenstein.. H W 4-0 ECQ
16-05-2006 Scotland....... H W 1-0 FR
16-08-2006 Romania........ A L 0-3 ECQ

Summary: 9/0. Won 6, Drew 2, Lost 1.

Adam McGurk

Name: Adam McGurk
Born: 24 January 1989, Larne
Height: 5.09 ft / 1.75 m
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Under-21 Cap (2009), Youth.

Club Career:
Teams ......... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League-- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Larne Youth
Aston Villa ...................... Youth .0 (0)/ 0
Hednesford Town 09/10...... Mar-10 .Free (Southern League)
Tranmere Rovers 10/11-12/13 Aug-10 .Free 48(31)/10 3(0)/1 1(1)/0 3(2)/1
Burton Albion.. 13/14-14/15 Aug-13 .Free 58(13)/15 3(1)/1 4(0)/1 3(1)/2
Portsmouth .... 15/16 ..... Jun-15 .Free 12(15)/ 2 4(0)/3 2(0)/1 1(2)/0
Cambridge Utd.. 16/17 ..... Jul-16 .Free .7 (8)/ 0
Morecambe ..... 17/18 ..... Aug-18 .Free 29 (5)/ 5 2(0)/0

Biography:
Young striker who's progress at Aston Villa was slowed by serious injury. Described by Steve Beaglehole as "technically good and adaptable" big things had been expected of him prior to undergoing knee reconstruction surgery and he had been training with the Villa firstteam before his seventeen month enforced absence. By early 2010 he had given up hopes of ever making it as a professional and had taken the decision to retire.

Encouraged by his family to give it another go, McGurk joined Hednesford Town where he played under former Northern Ireland midfielder, Bernard McNally. He then signed for Tranmere Rovers, initially on a non-contract basis and established himself over the next few seasons.

After starring at youth level for Northern Ireland, McGurk's only appearance for the Under-21 team lasted just 38 minutes as he struggled to make an impact as he was in the middle of an abortive return from a succession of serious and niggling injuries which included shin splints and as well as torn knee ligaments.

Good form in the 2012/13 season saw a first senior call-up for the February friendly against Malta. His contract with Tranmere expired in the summer of 2013 and he was targeted by several higher-tier clubs but eventually signed with League Two side Burton Albion. In 2015 he joined Portsmouth on a two year deal. He remained at Fratton Park for just a year before joining Cambridge United. He spent 2017/18 with Morecambe and his five goals helped them to avoid relegation from the EFL but he was released as the campaign ended.

Soccerbase

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
11-08-2009 Portugal A L 1-2 FR

Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Pictures by Roy Cathcart.

Sam Morrow

Name: Sam Morrow
Born: 3 March 1985, Londonderry
Height: 6.00 ft
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 4 Under-21 Caps / 4 Goals (2005-2006), 8 Under-15 Schoolboy Caps (2000-2001).
Club Honours: (with Derry) FAI Cup Runner-Up 2008; League of Ireland Cup Winner 2008; (with Ross Co.) Scottish First Division Champion 2011/12.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Institute	-	-	Youth	-	-	-	-	-
Ipswich Town	03/04	Jul-03	Youth	0 (0)/ 0	-	0(1)/0	-	-
Boston United	03/04	Dec-03	Loan	0 (2)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Hibernian	04/05-06/07	Jul-04	Free	5(25)/ 1	2(2)/2	3(1)/0	1(2)/0	-
Livingston	05/06	Jan-06	Loan	11 (0)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Partick Thistke	06/07	Mar-07	Loan	4 (4)/ 1	-	-	-	-
Derry City	2007 - 2009	Aug-07	Free	41 (-)/ 7	-	-	4(-)/0	-
Dunfermline Ath.	-	Jan-10	Trial	0 (0)/ 0	-	-	-	-
Coleraine	09/10-10/11	Feb-10	Free	4 (-)/ 0	-	-	-	*2(-)/0
Tranmere Rovers	10/11	Aug-10	Undisc.	2 (3)/ 0	0(1)/0	-	-	1(2)/0
Ross County	11/12-12/13	Jul-11	Free	21(13)/ 6	2(1)/1	1(0)/0	-	-
Linfield	14/15	May-14	Free	17 (6)/ 5	0(2)/0	-	0(1)/0	1(0)/1
Coleraine	15/16-16/17	May-15	Free	8(10)/ 2	-	-	-	5(1)/0
Institute	16/17- date	Dec-16	Free	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£0		-	-	-	-	-

* all domestic cup games

Biography:
Sammy Morrow first came to prominence as a schoolboy when, as captain, he scored the equaliser in a 2-1 win over Wales that gave Northern Ireland their first ever Victory Shield title.

One of the many players left in limbo following the financial meltdown of Derry City in the autumn of 2009, Morrow was left without a club and five months wages. He joined Dunfermline on a trial basis in late-December, and reportedly signed a contract towards the end of January. However, on the 5th February it was then revealed that he had been signed by Coleraine on an 18-month deal.

Previously Morrow played in Scotland with Hibernian, but his career was hampered by a cruciate ligament injury. After being released by Hibs in 2007 he joined hometown club, Derry City. He scored a hattrick in the 6-1 2008 League of Ireland Cup Final win over Wexford Youths and the following season collected an FAI Cup runner-up medal despite scoring twice in the final as Bohemians won on penalties.

In March 2010 Morrow was given a three month suspension by FIFA after admitting betting on a number of games in which he was involved. In the summer of 2010 he joined Tranmere Rovers on trial with a deal completed for an undisclosed fee a few days before the close of the transfer window. Having failed to make an impact at Prenton Park he was allowed to leave the following summer, joining Ross County of the Scottish First Division early in the 2011/12 season and he helped them to promotion to the top-flight for the first time. He scored three times, notably in a 3-2 win over Celtic, as County secured a top-half finish.

Morrow was released in the summer of 2013. He later emerged at Linfield as one of Warren Feeney's first signings. He was released after a disappointing single season, returning for another spell at Coleraine shortly thereafter where once again he failed to live up to expectations. Morrow was released mid-way through the 2016/17 season to allow him to join Institute.

Soccerbase
Wikipedia

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
08-02-2005 Scotland....... H W 2-1 FR. sub 1 goal
16-08-2005 Rep. of Ireland H D 2-2 FR
28-02-2006 Wales.......... A W 1-0 FR..... 1 goal
12-04-2006 Leichtenstein.. A W 4-1 ECQ ... 2 goals

Summary: 3(1)/4. Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 0.