Robbie Benson with new Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch
Benson is an experienced midfielder who has over 300 League of Ireland appearances and won three League of Ireland titles and an FAI Cup at Dundalk before adding another cup winners medal with St Patrick’s Athletic.
The Athlone man played over 30 games for Dundalk last season, but the Lilywhites suffering financial difficulties and relegation to the First Division, Benson was one of the players coveted by a number of Premier Division clubs.
Robbie has played all across the midfield and is well known for chipping in goals from there. In the 2024 season he scored 4 times for a struggling Dundalk side and City will be hoping he brings his previous success North.
City boss Tiernan Lynch expressed his satisfaction at securing the signature of the midfielder.
“Robbie is gonna be an unbelievable asset to this club and probably might not get the attention of others, but I think he’s one with a vast amount of experience in the League of Ireland , has league/cup medals already in his pocket and has played in major games,” said Lynch.
“He’s a great character, a lad that’s a real winner and he’s here for one reason, he wants to win and he sees Derry City as a good opportunity to do that.”
Carl Winchester is the latest addition to the Candystripes, with the Belfast man joining City ahead of the new season on a 2-year deal.
Carl Winchester
Carl also spent time with Cheltenham, Forest Green Rovers and Sunderland before arriving at Shrewsbury on loan for the 2022/23 season. He joined the Shrews on a full-time basis for the 2023 season and his 44 appearances saw him voted as Player of the Season at New Meadow.
The player has been regularly featuring this season and recently celebrated his 500th professional appearance, coming off the bench against Leyton Orient.
Winchester was capped at underage and senior level for Northern Ireland and joins senior internationals Liam Boyce, Gavin Whyte and Shane Ferguson at the Brandywell.
City boss Tiernan Lynch on the new signing said: “We’ve been very very fortunate with the players we’ve been able to bring in and the experience will be invaluable to us.
“He’s had an unbelievable career. When I met with Carl, he was in a situation where he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do.
“He was captain of Shrewsbury in League One and we got the chance to tell him all about our vision for Derry City Football Club, where we want to go and what we want to do. We’re obviously very ambitious and he bought right into the plan.”
On the club, Lynch said: “This has the potential to be the biggest club on the island of Ireland and it has every right to attract international footballers.
“I think the quicker we can start understanding that, believing that and sticking our chest out and bringing more of the likes of these boys in, the better off we’ll be.”
Scottish midfielder, Dom Thomas has arrived at the Brandywell on a 2-year deal.
Scottish midfielder Dom Thomas
The Glaswegian came up through the youth ranks of Celtic and Motherwell and even featured in the Foyle Cup many years ago so this isn’t his first time in the city.
Dom has played for a host of other sides in the SPFL pyramid including Kilmarnock, Dunfermline, Dumbarton and Queen of the South.
With over 300 games under his belt and mostly known for playing on the left wing, City will be hoping the former-Scottish U21 playmaker can hit the ground running with the new League of Ireland campaign starting in under a month.
Speaking to the club website, Dom Thomas said: “Speaking to the manager, [the club] came across very professional and ambitious and speaking to players that have played here and played for Tiernan, they spoke so highly of the club and him.
“I think as a player when you hear the ambitions and the drive of this club, it’s something you want to be part of and as a player that matches what I want to do with my career.
“The opportunity is exciting for me, different league, different place but I’m really looking forward to getting started.
“You’re always learning but I’m in my peak years and hopefully I can show my best stuff to the Derry fans in this new challenge. We were halfway through our season so I’m feeling fit and good and hopefully that can be an advantage to the team.
“I played with Mark Connolly at Dunfermline and he’s a great lad and he’s been a big part of me coming here as well, just getting advice, when you know how good a person he is.
“I think that’s what the dressing room is built on so that’s who you want to be playing with. And Paul McMullan as well as I came through the Celtic youth ranks with him and Joe Thomson who used to be at the club and Danny Mullen from Scotland as well, I’ve played against him for years and they’re good people.
“Everything fit into place for me, with the club on and off the pitch are going in the right direction and I want to be there to push the club forward and give my best for the club.”
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