Ballarat Red Devils sign Irish Premier League player
BY GAVIN MCGRATH
13 Jan, 2011 12:26 AM
BALLARAT Red Devils have signed an Irish Premier League player for the next two seasons.


Former Bohemian FC centre half Brian Shelley will join the Haymes Red Devils as a full-time employee, adding to a squad already strengthened by last month's signing of former Nottingham Forest centre-forward Adam Newbold.



Shelley completed his season with Bohemians, which finished second in the league on goal difference, in October. He is moving to Australia for family reasons.



"I have read a lot about the club over the past couple of months and it looks like a very exciting place to be right now ," Shelley said.



Less than four months ago Shelley, who turned 29 last month, lined-up for an all-Ireland team against Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Dublin in front of a crowd of 55,000.



Shelley played on England superstar Wayne Rooney for the first half and Dimitar Berbatov in the second.



Although the Irish lost the match 7-1, neither Rooney nor Berbatov scored while marked by Shelley.



"It was a great day for me to play against some of the best footballers on the planet. Really it was amazing and although we were beaten pretty well it was a great experience and something that I will never forget", Shelley said.



In 2009 Shelley was voted by the Irish Players Association (every player in the Irish Premier League votes) into the team of the year.



He also played 66 games with Carlisle United helping them in a play-off win in the Football Conference.



Adding to an impressive resume, Shelley has played eight European Cup (Champions League) matches and seven UEFA Cup matches as well.



The Red Devils start their 2011 pre-season training next Monday and Shelley will be in Ballarat in the first week of February.



He will work at the club as the full-time promotion and development manager.



http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/general/ballarat-red-devils-sign-irish-premier-league-player/2046042.aspx

"I have read a lot about the club over the past couple of months and it looks like a very exciting place to be right now ," Shelley said. -:lol: :lol: which league do they play in, provincial league 4?