Derry City Eddie McCallion looking forward to the challenges ahead
by Deniese O’Flaherty Editor Airtricity League Section
  
It shows the esteem in which a player is held within a club when the board takes it upon themselves to re-sign that player even though they are without a manager. That’s what happened to Derry City defender Eddie McCallion last week when the club offered him a one year contract. McCallion was out of contract at the end of last season and wondering where his future lay when the club approached him. He didn’t have to think twice about putting pen to paper. He is delighted with the faith
the board have shown in him. “I suppose it does show you how well-received I am within the club and with the fans as well. I think everyone is happy. I haven’t met anyone that wasn’t happy that I had re-signed. I like to give something back to the community. I think coming from Derry, that’s a good thing. I enjoy what I do. It’s a new challenge for me now with a new manager coming in. I have to prove myself to another manager,” he told viewfromthetouchline.com. Although his contract had expired McCallion never really worried about his future until two weeks ago when then Derry City manager Stephen Kenny left the club to take over the reigns at Shamrock Rovers. Suddenly the defender started to wonder what was going to
happen? “I was thinking if the new manager was someone from outside who didn’t know me, what would happen? I did wonder if I’d have to move on. The thought of moving on was hard especially with spending alot of time in Derry City and in the league. It would’ve been a hard decision to leave. I’m grateful to the board that they offered me a new contract.” As a free agent enquiries were made about McCallion and he spoke to a few Irish League clubs. He didn’t want to contemplate leaving the club he had spent the last 13 years with and luckily for him he didn’t have to. “There were a few clubs within the Irish League that made contact to see what I would like to do. I was holding out for Derry because I didn’t want to leave Derry. Though if the club told me they didn’t want me I would’ve had to make the decision. I’m fortunate that I didn’t have to do that.  The decision was made for me.” With pre-season about to start McCallion is looking forward to another new season and the challenges that lie ahead for him, his team-mates and the rest of the league. He believes that Shamrock Rovers will have plenty of teams after their Premier Division title.
“It’s going to be a good season and I can see it being as competitive as last season. I can’t see any team running away with the league. There are going to be a lot of teams challenging. I think it’s going to be tight.”
Derry City are expected to name their new boss soon and McCallion knows that although he has signed a new contract to remain at the club the hard work starts now for him; he has to impress the new boss and make sure he stakes a claim for that right-full position that he has made his own over the years. “The manager might come in and not want me. I will just have to keep working hard. It’s the same with the other boys at the club. It’s up to us to prove to the new manager that we deserve to be there. The hard work starts now. I want to work hard and do what I have always done; give my all for the club no matter what happens. Even if I’m not playing I want to be there for the team. With having such a young squad it’s important to do that. It’s important to lead on the field as well as off it,” said the popular defender.