• Former Newcastle United and Derry City player ready for Rocks challenge
• Galasso Trucking returns as Shamrocks sponsor

NY Shamrocks Technical Director Kevin Grogan welcomed his first new signing to the club this week, securing Lee-Ryan Toland in what will be seen as a huge boost five weeks out from the new season.

In what has proven to be a busy week for the club with pre-season training getting underway, the Shamrocks were further boosted by Galasso Trucking’s decision to once again support the club as a primary sponsor.

Toland (pictured above with Grogan during the week) said he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“It will be tough in Division 1 but Kevin is building a nice team here and I am delighted to be a part of it,” Toland told NYShamrockSC.com.

21-year-old Toland began his soccer career in Derry with his local club Don Boscos before English side Portsmouth brought him across the Irish Sea.

He impressed enough that Premier League side Newcastle United signed him July 2010, making his debut with the Newcastle Reserves two weeks later in a 2-1 win against Bristol City.

After three years at Newcastle, he failed to make the break into the first team and made the return home to play for Finn Harps in the Airtricity First Division before becoming one of a few former Harps players to follow ex-boss Peter Hutton to Derry City in 2014.

Lee, a former Northern Ireland youth international, is a left-sided full-back who loves getting forward but also enjoys defending and is comfortable at centre back as well.

“Lee’s decision to join the Rocks is an important first step,” said Grogan.

“He has settled in brilliantly and he has a great presence. It bodes well for the weeks ahead as we look to build a team for Division 1 soccer.”