John Caulfeld hails arrival of Ireland international as 'significant moment' for Galway United
Caulfield: "He's a Galway lad coming back to play for Galway United. We've had lots of Galway lads in the last 12 months who haven't wanted to come back"
Ireland international Greg Cunningham is targeting European football with Galway United after his high profile move home. The Galway native has returned after 17 years in England with Manchester City, Preston North End, Cardiff City and Bristol City.
And with Europe in the club’s sights, Cunningham, 33, insists he has plenty left to give after a career that yielded four senior caps. “I enjoyed my time in England and lived out my dream, but I still have a lot of aspirations as a player,” he said.
“It's not me coming home as a retirement plan - I have a lot to give to progress this club as much as I can. The league has progressed massively in the years I've been away. It's in a great place and is only getting better.”
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Galway United sit fifth in the Premier Division and are only three points off the European places with a game in hand.
Cunningham said: “Come the end of the season, hopefully the club will be in a European position. That's the aim.
“John Caulfield, Ollie Horgan and the boys have done a tremendous job to give them a fighting chance for that European spot and it would be great for Galway to get there.
“We have to be aware that it's the first season back in the top flight for a while, and you have to walk before you can run, but it's definitely a goal.”
Cunningham continued: “The club is in a great place and I want to keep driving it forward.
“What got me to England and kept me there for so many years was my application, professionalism, hunger and desire and that doesn't change.
“I'm still quite young and I have a lot to offer.”
Galway United boss John Caulfield revealed the Cunningham deal has been in the pipeline since they met last Christmas.
And Caulfield believes the Ireland defender can propel the club forward once up to speed having not played since Preston’s season finished in early May.
Caulfield said: “It's a significant moment for the club. He's a Galway lad coming back to play for Galway United.
“We've had lots of Galway lads in the last 12 months who haven't wanted to come back to the club. Maybe it's the progression of where we're at now.”
Caulfield added: “Every signing we bring in from now on has to be better than what we had, to make us significantly better.
“Financially, Greg would have been far better off to stay in England but it was the lure of coming back to play here.
“He sees this club is going places. He has a massive role to play and it's about getting into the team as quickly as possible and having a say.”
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