Things are looking up for Freddy Hall at Limerick in the SSE Airtricity League in Ireland after promotion back to the Premier Division at the first attempt.

The Bermuda goalkeeper is enjoying some time back home with family and watching his former club St George’s Colts, before returning to Limerick in January for pre-season training ahead of the new season which starts in February.

Hall’s decision to stay at Limerick after their relegation paid off with an outstanding season this year, winning 24 of their 28 league matches and only suffering one defeat as they topped the table with 75 points, 23 more than second-placed Drogheda United.

Hall conceded just 26 goals while keeping 13 clean sheets. For good measure Limerick also reached the final of the League Cup, losing 4-1 to St Patrick’s Athletic of the Premier Division.

“It was a good season for us, we achieved what we set out to do at the start and now we’re looking for a top-half finish [next season] and push for a European spot,” said the 31-year-old. “That’s really our goal for the upcoming season.”

After sometimes frustrating periods at other clubs in North America and England, Hall is thriving as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.

“I played the majority of the games, just missed about three when I was out injured,” he said. “Then we had a mid-season break so that helped because I got a few extra weeks’ recovery.

“I had a pretty good season overall, especially in the cup run when I felt I played well. It was a really strong team so I didn’t have much to do, you could say.”

The only blemish in the Limerick league campaign was a 2-0 loss to Cobh Ramblers in October after they were already confirmed as champions. They were four games from becoming the first team since Shamrock Rovers in 1927 to go unbeaten in a domestic season.

“It’s basically like the MLS season, running during the summer season,” said Hall, who has returned home for Christmas. “I enjoy being able to come back to Bermuda, especially during Christmas time.

“I’m definitely happy out there, I’m settled and the team takes real good care of me. If something ‘crazy’ comes along that I can’t turn down, I would consider [a move] but right now I can’t complain at all. At this stage of my career being happy, being settled and playing are the most important thing for me.

Last season Hall was able to establish himself as the club’s No 1 goalkeeper, something that is important to him after being second or third choice at previous clubs in the English League such as Northampton Town and Chester.

“Settling in Ireland was just a blessing,” he said. “The majority of clubs all over the world, once they have a good solid goalkeeper they don’t change for years. The ten other positions can change but the goalkeeper’s position is pretty concrete. It’s a real good group of guys that I’m playing alongside.

“We all get along on and off the field and it makes it so much easier. We only lost one game in the league, then made it to the League Cup final and lost to the team that knocked us out of the FAI, the Irish version of the FA Cup, St Patrick’s, who are a Premier Division team.

“The division we were in wasn’t too strong, we had a few decent teams, but the division we’re going into you will get a few teams comparable to League One [in England].

“The champions, Dundalk, are playing in the Europa League and are a real good team. They could probably compete in the Championship, though not be a dominant force. The majority of the teams would be League One, League Two standard.”

Limerick’s ground holds 5,000 fans and they can expect maximum crowds next season in the top flight. “To be fair we had some of the highest gates, over 3,000 for some of our games,” Hall said.

“We have very strong support from our games and they travel all over the country for us, definitely a good thing. We were a Premier Division team in the First Division last season and if we can add a few more pieces there will be nothing stopping us because we are a very strong team.”

Hall missed Bermuda’s World Cup qualifying matches this year, but has not given up representing his country, even though Bermuda is well-served in the goalkeeping department.

Fellow St Georgian, Nathan Trott, presently at West Ham United, represents the new generation of up-and-coming goalkeepers.

“I’ll always be available for my country if the opportunity comes and I’m able to come back,” promised Hall, the nephew of Troy Hall, the former St George’s goalkeeper.

“I’ll have a talk with them and see what they have on. It’s good to see a lot of those guys go abroad and take their opportunity. I’ve definitely been keeping a look on Nathan to see how he’s doing at West Ham. He’s doing extremely well.”

Hall watched St George’s come from behind to Southampton Rangers 5-4 earlier this month.

“I was up at Rangers before I left and saw that game, it was one of the craziest games I’ve seen live,” he said. “Hopefully they can push on and get promoted.”