Portadown Football Club is delighted to announce that Paul McElroy and Chris Rodgers have both committed their futures to the club by penning new 3 year and 1 year deals respectively.
McElroy (28) returned to the Ports in January 2023 from Ballymena United and went on to contribute 7 goals in 13 games as the club battled for survival in the Premiership.
The Dungannon native began his career at home town club Dungannon Swifts before making the move to Hull City in 2010 followed by a move to Sheffield Wednesday in 2014. The former Northern Ireland U21 international returned home in the summer of 2014 to join Linfield before Ronnie McFall swooped on Christmas Eve 2014 to bring the talented forward to Shamrock Park. It would prove to be a short stay at Portadown for Paul as he would depart in the summer of 2015 to return to Dungannon Swifts before moving on to Crusaders and then Ballymena United.
On Paul signing a new deal at Shamrock Park, Portadown manager Niall Currie stated
Paul came in and done a wonderful job for us and showed his pedigree. Whenever we signed him we knew we were getting a really top quality bottom six Premiership striker, and he came in and proved that, he’s as good as anything that’s out there and we are over the moon that he’s signed a new deal.
We approached Paul ‘early doors’ because we wanted to start building for next season and we sat down and decided the best way forward was to hopefully tie him down for the best years of his career, he’ll be 29 in July so will be 31 when his contract ends which is in his prime so I thought it was a no brainer.
A big thank you to the club for supporting our wishes and again the fact that Paul was very very happy to commit to the club for his best years, we know he’s dropping down to the Championship but it shows his commitment to the club and the cause and we’re absolutely over the moon that he’s the first to agree to stay on for next season and beyond.
Also penning a new deal at the club is Chris Rodgers who has signed a new 1 year deal with the option of a further year.
The 32 year old central defender arrived in the January transfer window from Dundela and went on to establish himself as a real fan favourite in his 16 appearances.
Beginning his career at Carniny Youth the defender has had spells at Ballymena United (x3), Coleraine, Wakehurst, Larne, Ballyclare Comrades and Carrick Rangers.
On Chris committing to the club for at least another year Ports boss Currie commented
Chris Rodgers signing is just testament to the man really, it was easiest negotiation I think I’ve ever been involved in in regards to a player staying at a club.
I think Chris come in and done fantastically well, he’s turned into a whole hearted fans favourite and our fans have a lot of affection for him as he wears his heart on his sleeve and gives absolutely everything. It shows his commitment to our cause next year that he’s going to drop down a division again and help get this club hopefully back to where it belongs.
It’s an easy negotiation when you’re dealing with a guy who absolutely loves the club, he fell in love with the club from the day and hour he came and he realises the size of the club, which is half of the battle, and like Paul we’re absolutely over the moon to get Chris tied down.