Ellis Chapman hopes Derry City move can put smile on his face after tough time at Tolka

​The 25-year-old Englishman was approached by Derry City at the end of the 2024 season following an impressive League of Ireland debut campaign with Sligo Rovers.

A horrible ankle injury sustained on the Brandywell's artificial pitch a couple of months before those tentative talks were fresh in his mind, so the former Bit O'Red talisman opted for a move to newly crowned champions Shelbourne.

That move to Tolka Park promised so much but delivered little from a personal perspective as he made just 37 appearances during his 15 month spell in North Dublin.

Derry came knocking once again as Director of Football Mark Connolly sensed an opportunity and this time Chapman couldn't refuse. He knows he plays his best football when he's got a smile on his face and hopes he can resurrect his best form with the Candy Stripes.

"I see this as a fresh start, a fresh mindset," said the Lincoln native who scored his first Derry goal on his Brandywell debut in the 2-1 loss to CSKA Sofia on Thursday’s Europa League return leg.

"I have absolutely nothing against Shelbourne; great club, great fans but it just didn't work out. I couldn't get going like I did at Sligo.

"It's just about coming here and enjoying my football again and hopefully executing that on the pitch and getting back to my best."

So why the change of heart when the Derry approach came as the summer window opened?

"There was plenty of factors [to consider]. Shelbourne had won the league so you had the prospect of going into Europe. It was more so, that I felt it fit a little better. Obviously I had that very bad injury at the Brandywell when I was playing for Sligo so maybe that put me off a little bit.

"I don't know what it was. It was the decision I made at the time but I'm absolutely delighted I'm here now and I'm glad it's happened. Hopefully I can show everyone what I can do and get going properly again.

"It has been up and down for me, just like it was back in England," explained the former Cheltenham Town midfielder. "For me personally, in my career, that year at Sligo was the best year of my life. I absolutely loved it. Loved playing my football. Always looked forward to matchday and every day in training and it's about enjoying my football.

"That's the most important thing I've learned: you have to be happy. That's when you play your best football. I had that injury in the Brandywell and couldn't quite get it right and it was really difficult for me. No excuses.

" There were times where I started games and just wasn't good enough, which is fine. But I really struggled to get my ankle right. Touch wood, I'm all right now. Physically I feel the best I've ever felt. Hopefully I can get back to enjoying my football again."

Derry had been at a low ebb prior to the summer window opening but with the addition of Chapman, Nick Twisk, Christy Grogan, goalkeeper Tom Norcott and Darragh Burns from Grimsby, things are suddenly looking up as the club attempts to go through the rounds in Europe and the FAI Cup.

"It's very exciting. Looking around the changing room, we have a fantastic squad. The times I played against Derry I could tell how good a team they are and how good the club is run so it's really exciting times and hopefully we can kick on and start winning games and getting back to what Derry City Football Club is all about."

Chapman, alongside Grogan, was thrown into the deep end on his debut as he started against CSKA Sofia at a hostile Vasil Levski Stadium in the Bulgarian capital last week. He couldn't have envisioned a better introduction to his new team.

"It's been really good and the lads have been really welcoming. It's not been a bad first week. I was in for a couple of days training and then straight off to Bulgaria to play in Europe so it's been a great week.

"It's obviously difficult when you go into a new team but personally I'm fit. I've come from Shelbourne so I'm still in season and it's not been a preseason like some of the other boys. It was a tough game, don't get me wrong, with the heat and all that. I got through the game and the team did as well so it was good."

Now it's time to turn attention to the FAI Cup and the visit of Tolka Rovers.

"This is my third year in Ireland now and being at Sligo, Shelbourne and here now, everyone speaks about the FAI Cup and getting a run, getting to the final at the Aviva which would be really special, particularly for me. It's something I really want to do and experience. "It all starts with the first game on Sunday. We need to win that and get off to a good start and see how far we can go."