Club News
Big Signing
6th July 2012
CARL Fletcher's second signing of the summer has turned out to be quite a big one. Literally, a big one.
Rene Gilmartin, released by Watford at the end of last season, is a young goalkeeper who stands at 6ft 5in, making him the tallest player in the Argyle squad.The 25-year-old Irishman, who has joined the Pilgrims on a two-year deal, says it didn't take long for him to make his mind up about switching to Home Park.
"I got a call a couple of weeks ago," said Rene.
" I knew by then that the club had been in touch with Watford when they knew I was being released to see what I was like as a person.
"My agent had a chat with me and said something might be available and I said I'd be really interested, so I've come down, signed the forms today and now we're straight into it."
The sun unfortunately didn't shine down on Rene's first taste of pre-season at Home park - which included a lengthy run around Central Park - but the youngster didn't let that get him down.
"Yeah, it's a handy old run that one.
"It was quite humid and sticky but it's just like every year. You just brush off the cobwebs and get stuck back into training.
"Obviously it's very important on your first day to get in and get to know a few of the boys and the staff; but yeah it's gone really well today. "
In the past Rene has been restricted to just a few appearances through no fault of his own. He moved to Watford after a successful season at Walsall in 2010 but at Vicarage Road he was vying for the number one spot with Scott Loach, one of England's current u21 goalkeepers. Not an easy task.
Rene never let that affect him though, and is already looking to come in and make his mark on the Argyle squad - who he believes have the components to be successful this year.
"I want to achieve as much as I can really. I want to play as many games as I can, I want to help to bring this great club back to where it should be and just be a part of a successful team which I think will happen where I've signed," stated Rene.
"I can already see the honesty and professionalism from the players and all the staff here and that will help to play a part in the results we get over the course of the season.
"Coming down here, it's a place that's definitely not a League Two setup. There's a big stadium, a large number of staff and if you can use that to your benefit you can only improve."