Professional deal for former ETP product Ben Mullen
EVERY path along any journey in sport begins with a small step and for Ben Mullen, those steps have now begun to build into a ladder to the very top.
Last week, the local man signed a two-year professional deal with Warenpoint Town in the Irish League.
It ties him to a club and a management structure - including fellow Mid Louth man Robert McQuillan - that want to bring the teenager to the very top.
Ben started out on his playing career with Albion Rovers and then went to Dromin United, where he joined a pathway that sparked his rise.
He was part of the Emerging Talent Programme within the Drogheda League and under Mark Costigan and his team, developed into a rich talent.
He played in the prestigious Kennedy Cup series in Limerick and would later sign for the Drogheda Boys.
A move then came from Cavan/ Monaghan and last August, at 18, he joined Warrenpoint Town.
They saw something in him pretty quickly and played in his first match on a Friday night and was promoted to the first team squad the following day!
His starting debut was against Coleraine who were on a 52 game unbeaten run. He played at centre half, Warrenpoint - bottom of the table at the time - shocked everyone to win 3-1 and Ben was adjudged Man of the Match. A few people were impressed.
After that he played 17 times before COVID-19 put an end to things.
With the league now finished, it looks as if Warrenpoint will be playing Premier Division football again next season.
Ben was part of the FAI course at DkIT and training three times a week as part of that helped his development a lot.
‘It is a tough league,’ he states and being so young - he turned 19 last week - he sometimes gets the long balls delivered in his direction, but he has grown in confidence from early on and realishes the challenge ahead.
He cites NI international Shane Lavery and Crusaders ace Michael Owens as the two toughest he’s come across yet.
‘In many ways the pressure is on them too as they are expected to get past me,’ he feels.
He has sampled football at a number of venues but says running out at Windsor Park against Linfield was special.
With college and working in Drogheda, he’s keeping himself busy for the summer, before returning in mid July for another season.
‘We’ll be meeting up three times a week and it comes back and the trip, is not too bad, it’s a 40 minute journey to Warrenpoint,’ he states. ‘Signing the two-year deal is great because the club want me to become a better player and I want to learn. The supporters are great too and we have a loyal band who follow us.’
Ben is not the only local link and Ciaran McCann has fitted into the midfield with them. ‘He’s a super player,’Ben adds.
McCann has also been tipped for a big career.
Another local face is goalkeeper Gabriel Sava, the former Drogheda and Dundalk keeper.
‘He’s a great man to have behind you,’ Ben explained.
About 70% of the team are from the south, with a number from Dundalk and Dublin.