Baggies striker hopes to catch up with old faces at Turner's Cross
SHANE Long is looking forward to returning to his old stomping ground when Albion visit Cork City tomorrow night (ko 7.45pm).
The 26-year-old striker made only one first-team appearance at Turner’s Cross before joining Reading in June 2005.
And the Ireland international is eternally grateful to the club which gave him the springboard to launch his professional career.
“It will be the first time that I'll be back at Turner’s Cross since I played there for Cork,” said Long.
“I'm looking forward to it, to see some old friends and catch up with people.
“The one game that I played at Turners Cross was against Bray Wanderers.
“I came on for the last ten or 15 minutes, and I think we won 1-0.
“I didn't get to score, but it was nice to play there and I can't wait to get back there again.
“Cork gave me my start in professional football and I was treated well during my time there, so I have fond memories of the club and the people there.
“I also have a lot of friends still playing for them, like Dan Murray, Neal Horgan, Danny Murphy, and Mark McNulty.
“When I came in it was at the end of one season and the start of another, and I wasn't there that long because Reading came to watch Kevin [Doyle] and saw me.
“Things happened quite quickly after that.
“For me coming into that set-up was great as it was my first introduction to professional football and it was a big decision for me to quit hurling for it, but I knew once I went to Cork that I’d made the right decision.”
Tickets for Albion’s trip to Cork are available to purchase via Ticketmaster*.
Admisson for the Turner’s Cross fixture is priced €15 (£12.90 approx) adults, €10 (£8.60 approx) under-18s, and €5 (£4.30 approx) for under-13s and seniors.
To purchase a seat via Ticketmaster, click here.
Alternatively, supporters can buy tickets from huts outside Turner’s Cross from 90 minutes before kick-off, however, fans are advised not to travel to Ireland without a ticket.
Albion supporters have been designated the St. Anne’s end of the ground but please note there will be no segregation at Turner’s Cross.
*Seats purchased via Ticketmaster incur a service charge.