Young man knows what he wants to be

“Just watching from the stand I imagined myself coming on so for that to actually happen would be brilliant.”

To switch from playing academy football to first team football is no easy transition but sixteen year old Sam Young is soaking up the experience enjoying playing in games as well as training with the first team squad. He came on for Kyle Benedictus at Forfar to play alongside Rhys Breen for the final 20 minutes and was introduced at Cove Rangers where he played alongside Kyle Benedictus for the same period of time. Speaking to the website, Sam acknowledged just how good that felt:-

“It was brilliant and playing with experienced players takes your game to a new level because they talk you through everything. You just have to listen for their demands and try and keep up.”

In January 2006 when he was ten years of age Sam signed for Dunfermline Athletic. He came to the Academy from Bayside Athletic FC where he had simultaneously attended the Fife Football Performance Academy while at Pitreavie PS and subsequently Dunfermline High.

Sam has been playing in an older age group over the past years and had trained once or twice with the first team squad. This experience has seen him perform well enough to be offered terms with Dunfermline.

For someone who had sat in the main stand with his dad supporting the Pars for eight or nine years, there was no hesitation in accepting the contract offer. He continued:-

“It is just a delight to get the chance to play for my boyhood club. To come all the way through the academy to get a contract and play for my team is brilliant.

“It was great to get out in front of fans and get used to playing in front of more folk than usual. When you are young you have parents there but it is great to get out in front of fans.”

Bouncing full of youthful confidence Sam simply can’t wait to play at East End Park and has his eye on making a mark in this week’s pre season friendly against Kilmarnock:-

“It would be amazing to make my home debut. Just watching from the stand I imagined myself coming on so for that to actually happen would be brilliant.”

The centre half who is also capable of playing at full back attributes his development and success to his coaches - Dougie Coulson, Barry Malcolm and Hamish French. Now he is looking forward full time training and regular football:-

“I am hoping that the training can make me quicker and sharper, it might not be this season but eventually I hope to get in about the first team. Maybe I could get played off the bench and one day get a start in the team.”

James McPake always points out that he is willing to give youth a chance so Sam is hopeful that his arrival at the same time as the new manager proves to be good timing. Sam believes there are good omens:-

“It even showed in the pre season games. Against Cove Rangers when it was tight at 1-0, to bring on a young centre back shows that he has trust in young players and he will give them the opportunity.”

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