Grogan signs for Athlone Town as American journey comes to an end

After a year and a half, Peter Grogan’s American journey is officially over as it’s been confirmed that he’s signed for Ian Ryan’s Athlone Town for the upcoming season.

The Crettyard youngster has been playing with Austin FC II in the MLS Pro and was widely expected to go back for his second full season having come home for Christmas in the off-season.

However, speaking to The Nationalist this week, Grogan explained that both he and Austin felt it was time for a change.

Styles Clash

“I had a conversation with Austin at the end of the year, last year, that it would be probably best for my career at the moment just to go back and play men’s football again,” Grogan explained.

“And just the style of play really in Austin didn’t particularly suit my strengths and stuff like that. I was being asked to drop in a lot and kind of play as a false nine rather than an out-and-out nine to run in behind and stuff like that.

“So it was just an agreement we made, really, that if I found a club in Ireland that I wanted to go to, that they’d let me go. So we decided to mutually terminate my contract in Austin and get the move to Athlone, which I’m delighted about.”

Grogan says he knew the manager Ian Ryan from his time with Bray and felt like Athlone was his best next step.

“We’ve been talking over the off season and we were able to sort out a deal. I have a good relationship with Ian, so I was delighted to go in and play for Athlone.”

Logical next step?

Is Grogan disappointed that his career in the USA didn’t work out? Naturally he would have to be a little bit, having gone over with so much promise and potential. But he sees it as just another step in his development.

“I suppose a little bit yeah it would have been great to go over there and get a first team contract,” the former CK United underage player said.

“But listen these things happen it’s not always going to be a straight line to where I want to get to so yeah I’m happy where I am now to go back into the League of Ireland and hopefully have a big year. To be honest, I don’t see it as a step back because I think I’m a much better player than the last time I was in the League of Ireland.

“So I think I’ll be able to affect games a lot more and score more goals and hopefully win and get promotion to the Premier Division really is the main goal for the team this year. I would always have to really think hard about the right step for my career. And I thought that it was right for my career to come back and play in the League of Ireland again.

“I really just want to come in here and have a big year and get as much minutes as I can in the tank and score lots of goals,” Grogan explained.