Reserves Update

News of loan agreements and fixtures

*The friendly against Dundonald Bluebell re-arranged for Tuesday 13th August has been postponed for a second time due to the wet weather.*

Greg Shields confirmed this week the players in the Under 20s squad who have recently gone out on loan.
Lewis Crosbie and Lewis Sawers to Crossgates Primrose.
Paul Brown and Gregor Jordan to Kennoway Star Hearts
Kieran Swanson to Camelon Juniors
Josh Robertson to Civil Service Strollers.
All will be expected to return to Dunfermline to play in the reserves.

Greg explained the rationale in loaning out so many of his squad.

“Matthew Todd and Lewis McCann (pictured above) are in and out the first team but we have players who are underneath them and underneath that as well. Our reasoning was to try and give the players the best possible opportunity to kick on as quick as they can into the first team.

“So how can we expedite that process? They have ten months left on their contract and the last thing we want is them turning round and saying that they never really got the opportunity.

“Sometimes the Championship is hard, it is ugly and the games are intense. They are very physical and they don’t get that physicality in the reserve games. These kids are not getting the experience that Matthew Todd and Lewis McCann are getting in the first team.

“So to give them that experience to me it is the best thing. They can’t go to a League One or League Two team because these teams are not going to take a chance on them, so the next best thing is to go to the Lowland League, East of Scotland League or Junior. Some are on a year loan, some until January. They are there until January at least.

“We put their names out there to give them the opportunity. Then it comes down to, do we think that would suit them? Crossgates does because they were looking for wider players.

“It is great for them. Paul Brown played in his first game and scored. Lewis Sawers and Lewis Crosbie scored in their first game. Kieran Swanson scored for Camelon. They are all buzzing for each other on their WhatsApp.

“They are happy because they come in and talk about the experiences that they have had and it is different. It is seeing how other players are, different experiences that are going to help them wherever they end up.

“The great wish is that they end up playing here and kick on. Some may not but at least they will have had the exposure to go out and they have other people watching them too.”

It has all been positive except for Lewis Crosbie (pictured above) picking up a complex anterior cruciate ligament injury that will put him out for the rest of this season. Greg added:-

“Unfortunately these things do happen. A freak injury and it is disappointing.”

The Reserve League season will start with a home match against Queen of the South on Monday 19th August. The venue for this opener will be at Hill of Beath.

The first away match is away to St Mirren on Tuesday 3rd September but in between there will be the Fife Cup Final on Tuesday 27th August against East Fife at East End Park (kick off 7.45pm.)

“There is a run of games coming up for them which is great because there are a lot of fringe players who need games plus it is great for the younger boys to see the older boys coming back in and playing like they are playing a first team game.”

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