19 year old defender Alasdair recently signed for boyhood club Dunfermline Athletic, having previously been at Celtic FC.
We spoke with him to see what his thoughts were on signing, what his ambitions are and how futsal helped him on his journey.
How does it feel to be playing first team football for your boyhood club?
It feels amazing, playing with the team I’ve always supported. I’m honoured to play with the Pars. People always say that it’s been their dream to play for the club they’ve signed for just for the media, but it genuinely is a dream come true for me.
What are your ambitions for this season?
My ambition is to improve as a player everyday and give my all so I can hopefully push my way into the first team.
Where do you want to be in 5 years time?
In five years time I just want to be happy and be the best footballer I can be.
Football can be a roller coaster journey with lots of ups and downs. What are your ups and downs?
Yeah, it is filled with ups and downs and uncertainty. I’d definitely say that my biggest down if you want to call it that was when I left Celtic. All I had ever known was Celtic so leaving not knowing what club I would end up going to next was difficult, even though I believed in myself and believed I would find somewhere to play. It was just that uncertainty that was really difficult to deal with. I was proactive and got in touch with Dunfermline and by doing that I created an opportunity for myself. I was fortunate enough to prove to the manager and the people there that I deserved a contract.
The best advice I can give for people out there from my experience is don’t get too up when things are going well and don’t get to down when things aren’t going as you want them too. Take a step back and actually look at the situation and understand that these experiences happening to you are going to help you grow as a person. No poor game or training sessions defines you as a player. Be driven in your mindset and do your best.
How did futsal help you in your development?
Futsal helps you in many ways. One of the best things about futsal is it lets you express yourself and try new things. Technically it helps you become better at your control with the ball at your feet and helps you massively in tight areas and finding ways to get out of difficult situations. These attributes are massive in football.
Would you recommend futsal for any aspiring footballer?
I would definitely recommend futsal to anyone. It’s fun. It’s helpful and the atmosphere is great. I don’t think there has been a time I have gone to play and not enjoyed myself.
What advice would you have for any young player looking to become a footballer?
My advice for any young player is just to be yourself and work as hard as you can everyday. If you do that you’ll have no regrets. Try not to think too much or be put down by negative things people say to you. If you believe in yourself you can make something of yourself.
Some fantastic advice from Alasdair. His effort and attitude have always been exemplary and it was great to have him back at our first team sessions over the close season. His professionalism rubbed off on others in the squad and had a positive impact on our younger players. All the best with the Pars this season!!
