KEY SIGNINGS FOR MARINE AS COOPER, CLAIR AND MENAGH AGREE DEALS

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Marine announces that Goalkeeper Matty Cooper, midfielder Karl Clair and winger Jamie Menagh have all signed new contracts this week ahead of the new season.
Discussions with the players have been taking place with manager Sean Hessey since the end of the season and the contracts have now been completed and submitted to the Football Association.

Goalkeeper Matty Cooper, 26, joined the Mariners last summer from Witton Albion where he made over 150 appearances in three seasons. He made an FA Vase final appearance at Wembley for Glossop Town before joining Witton Albion in 2010. Matty made 54 appearances for Marine last season and was also the winner of the Supporters’ and Manager’s Player of the Year awards.

Karl Clair, 22, a central midfielder, joined Marine in summer 2014 from Vauxhall Motors. He originally joined Vauxhall in September 2012 after he was released by Liverpool in May 2011. He played in the 2009 FA Youth Cup Final for Liverpool and his last involvement with the Reds was on the youngster’s 2011 end of season tour to the Caribbean. Last season he made 52 appearances for Marine, scoring 6 goals and won the Players’ Player of the Year accolade.

21 year old winger Jamie Menagh was with Blackpool as a youngster and had a spell at Stoke City before signing a contract with Chester FC. He joined the Mariners in January and made 19 appearances scoring 2 goals, with memorable strikes against Frickley Athletic and Buxton.

Chairman Paul Leary said:
“These are important signings for Marine as we start our preparations for the new season, thankfully in the NPL Premier Division. Matty, Karl and Jamie played a huge part in our survival battle and I am really pleased that they have decided, after talks with Sean, to remain at Marine. This is the first of further announcements that will be made in the coming weeks as we hope to sign the majority of players who played such an immense part of Marine’s history at the end of last season.”

Marine manager Sean Hessey added:
“I am absolutely delighted that Jamie, Matt and Karl have committed themselves to Marine for the new season. If they continue to progress I believe these lads have got a bright future ahead of them. To have them on board is great news for all involved at the Club. It will be superb working with them again as we all strive to step up from the end of last season and bring success to Marine Football Club. ”

Photo shows Jamie Menagh with manager Sean Hessey