City snap up Doherty!

Exeter have announced their fourth new signing of the week, snapping up midfielder Tommy Doherty.  The 33 year-old has twice been named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year (2006-07 and 2008-09) and can also boast nine Northern Ireland caps to his name.

Doherty began his career with home town club Bristol City, where his team mates included Danny Coles and his new boss, a certain Paul Tisdale. After nine years at Ashton Gate, in which he accumulated 189 appearances, Doherty was signed by Ian Holloway for Queens Park Rangers in 2005 but failed to establish himself in the first team and subsequently went on loan to Yeovil.

He made just a solitary appearance for the Glovers, against Chesterfield, featuring alongside Kevin Amankwaah and Arron Davies. Doherty suffered an injury after 11 minutes which marked the end of his Glovers spell. Despite this setback Yeovil went on to win the game 3-0 with Arron Davies scoring a hat-trick.

Doherty’s next loan move was to Wycombe Wanderers, playing 26 times and scoring twice. It was a hugely successful spell and not only was he was named in the 2006-07 PFA League Two Team of the Year, but he was also named the supporters official player of the year.

After a second loan spell, Wycombe snapped up Doherty permanently after his release by QPR. He once again became an integral part of Wanderers’ side and helped the side win automatic promotion from League Two at the end of the 2008-09 campaign, finishing a point behind 2nd placed Exeter City. Doherty was also named for a second time in the PFA League Two Team of the Year.

In January of 2010 Doherty walked out on Wycombe after telling the club he didn’t want to play under Gary Waddock due a dispute they had when they were together at QPR. He then joined Hungarian side Ferencvárosi TC until the end of the season, making 11 appearances.

He returned to England in May 2010, joining Bradford City on a two-year-deal, though after a year his contract was cancelled by mutual consent after making 18 appearances.

Doherty spent last season in the Blue Square Premier, starting at Newport County with whom he made 23 appearances. He was released in January and soon after joined Bath City on a non-contract deal.

Following the departures of David Noble, James Dunne and Callum McNish, Doherty becomes a much needed addition to City’s midfield and sees the one-time Bristol City skipper return to the Football League after spending last season in Non-League.

A warm Exeweb welcome to Tommy Doherty.  Read more about Tommy on Wikipediaand head over to the ECFC Official Site for more on City’s latest signing.