Bradley Wade joins Ross County: The lowdown on former Cork City title-winning goalkeeper

Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell hopes to see former Cork City title-winning goalkeeper Bradley Wade flourish after joining the Dingwall club.

The 25-year-old is Kettlewell’s eighth summer signing, as the team prepares to kick off in League One in August following two successive relegations.

Englishman Wade, who has just left NIFL Premiership side Ballymena United, came through the ranks with Rochdale, spending time on loan at Guiseley and Barrow, before making a permanent move into the National League set-up with Hereford Town.

In January 2024, he moved to Cork City and enjoyed a great debut season, keeping 20 clean sheets from 34 appearances, which helped City win the League of Ireland First Division and earned him a spot in the division’s team of the year.

Since then, Wade has played for League of Ireland Premier Division side Waterford and, most recently, Ballymena United in Northern Ireland’s top-flight.

‘His time at Cork City was particularly impressive’

Kettlewell is delighted to bring Wade to Dingwall to become part of a three-man group competing for the gloves each week.

He said: “Brad is still young, especially for a goalkeeper, and brings a strong level of experience with the number of games he has played at a senior level already.

“His time at Cork City was particularly impressive, and for such a young goalkeeper to have had such a big impact on a promotion-winning side is a credit to his ability and mentality.

“He joins what is already an excellent group with Brad Foster and Jayden Reid, and working alongside (keeper coach) Scott Thomson, I feel the addition makes us really strong and competitive in the goalkeeping department.

“I’m looking forward to Bradley showing us what he can do, and I’m pleased to have him signing here.”

Amissah makes move to Tannadice

Former County goalkeeper Jordan Amissah, meanwhile, has agreed to join Premiership side Dundee United.

The 24-year-old, who made 23 appearances for the Highlanders in 2024-2025, terminated his contract at English League One club Burton Albion to return to Scotland.

Amissah joined the Brewers last summer, but made only six appearances, with his most recent game being last October.

Joining Jim Goodwin’s Tangerines will allow him to push number one Jack Walton for a place in the team.

Since the end of the season, County have brought back Championship and League Cup-winning striker Brian Graham, wingers Luke McCarvel and Richard Chin, and midfielders Chris Hamilton and Jack Turner.

Defensively, left-back Lewis Strapp and centre-half Lewis Reid have boosted the Staggies’ back-line.

Recovery after losing possession is a key area Kettlewell is focusing on

Kettlewell’s side continued their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 win at Clachnacuddin on Tuesday, with goals coming from new signings McCarvel and Turner.

Six of the summer arrivals featured, with the manager changing line-ups at the start of each half.

Stout defending, strong goalkeeping from Clach number one Mark Ridgers and some wayward finishing was the reason it finished as 2-0, with County looking slick and fluid.

Kettlewell, who has worked his group hard from day one of pre-season, explained that the foundations must be in place in order to allow his team to have an attacking outlook.

He said: “Everybody wants open and attacking football.

“From my point of view, that counts for nothing if you can’t run.

“If you give possession away, you take a risk, you need to be able to recover and get back into shape.

“This is not me casting aspersions. It’s just how I see football.

“We can be as creative and open as we want as long as we know we can recover and get back into shape because, otherwise, you leave yourself exposed.

“What you could see from the two halves on Tuesday, was two teams, and two sets of players who are mobile and can cover the ground.

“I think you then start to flourish a wee bit more in possession of the ball. You then see a bit more confidence.

“If truth be told, we’ve been used to losing as a club over the past two seasons.

“In simple terms, in football, if you win games then you start to build confidence. It’s about trying to merge all those things together.”

[Source: Press and Journal]