ENNIS’ Barry Cotter has signed a season-long loan deal with League Two side Notts County.
Wing-back Cotter departs League One outfit Barnsley temporarily and will spend this season down a division to line out with Notts County.
Since joining Barnsley from Shamrock Rovers in January 2023, Barry has played seventy two times in all competitions for the Tykes, twenty nine of which were starting appearances in the league. One such outing included fulfilling a lifetime dream by facing off with Manchester United in Old Trafford in the third round of the Carabao Cup when they lost 7-0.
Martin Paterson who in June was appointed Notts County manager was assistant head coach to Cotter with Barnsley.
On getting to work with former Stoke striker Paterson again, Barry said, “I came to Barnsley halfway through the gaffer’s stint as assistant to Michael Duff and I clicked with him straightaway. I love the way he works, the standards he sets and the demands he puts on his players. He’s very honest and ambitious – and brings a lot of energy to his training sessions. He wants to play football that gets fans off their feet and hopefully I can help make that happen”.
Speaking about what he hopes to bring to the fold with the Magpies, Cotter outlined, “I’m not short of pace – I’m direct and love getting forward from wide positions, while never shying away from a tackle. I feel like I’ve had most of my joy on the right hand side but I can definitely be a threat on the left as well. I’m an honest, hard-working lad and I just want to do my best for the club”.
Reflecting on his career to date, the twenty six year old stated, “It’s definitely been a rollercoaster but I’m grateful for every experience I’ve had up to now. From the outside looking in, it feels like I’m joining a club that’s heading in the right direction. Looking around the stadium, it feels like home already. I’ve met the lads this morning and it’s a great group, so it’s all very positive. Every season’s a big season. I just want to take what I’ve learned to this point and improve”.
His career began with Avenue Utd and Ennis Town FC before signing for Limerick FC in August 2015. He put pen to paper on a deal with Ipswich Town in January 2018 and made his debut under Mick McCarthy.
After leaving Portman Road, he had an unsuccessful trial at Leyton Orient and also spent time training with Swedish side GAIS. Cotter moved to Dublin and signed with Shamrock Rovers in August 2021. The following summer, he linked up with another Dublin side in St Patrick’s Athletic on loan with the move to Barnsley completed in January 2023.
