Tody aims to make his own stamp

Dunfermline youths showing great talent, working hard on the training field and doing well when given their chance.

Just 24 hours after making his first team home debut on Tuesday night, Andrew Tod was playing Lowland League opposition at the Christie Gilllies Park at Muirhouse. The sixteen year old fully understands that his route to becoming a first team regular includes such contrasting fixtures. For the U18s friendly against Civil Service Strollers, Andrew was joined by the other four Academy recruits who have accepted full time apprentice contracts - Callum Archibald, Michael Beagley, Jake Rennie and Sam Young.

Nevertheless he is delighted with his progress so far with appearances off the bench in pre season friendlies and in both the Premier Sports Cup ties played in the last week.

Andrew was one of the five young players signed on 2 year modern apprenticeships with the club on 13th June. All the young recruits have joined in first team pre season training and harbour ambitions to break into the first team as soon as possible but Andrew reckons ten appearances throughout his first season would be a realistic target. He told the website:-

“I’m a good way towards that, I really didn’t think that I’d get two this early. I’ll just take what comes.”

Describing his substitute appearance midway through the second half against Buckie Thistle, Andrew revealed that it took him a little while to get to grips with the game. When he did he was the one with the assist that led to Nikolay Todorov’s second goal:-

“As soon as that happened and I got space and time on the ball. I saw Toddy making a run and he finished it off well, I can’t complain about that.”

Andrew was under no specific instructions from the manager.

“He has just said ‘as soon as you get on just try and make an impact, give 100 per cent on the pitch’, that is all you can do. He says that we have to be patient because I’m not going to play every game. Whenever you get your chance you just have to take it.“

Andrew was unsure how many of his family had been present to see him get that chance but he knows how important their support has been:-

“Six or seven I think. My family have played a big part in my football career. My grandad John (Meiklem) takes me everywhere. He has even taken me down to England and he is going across to Ireland to watch my brother, John, play for Dunfermline in the Foyle Cup next week. He is all over the place just doing everything for us.”

Andrew’s dad will also be in Coleraine for the Foyle Cup next week but he took in both Andrew’s games this week at East End and in Edinburgh, he is always there when his shifts permit explained Andrew:-

“He is always here when he can. He tells me not to get too ahead of myself but it is hard not to when you are this young you get a chance like this. He tells me when I play bad but also tells me when I do well. It is getting that balance, not putting me down too much but not putting me way up.”

The sixteen year old has been given a special welcome by Dunfermline fans with cheers and encouragement clearly audible at East End Park.

“I think that comes from my dad to be honest, it is hard not to mention him since he is such a massive figure at this club so I just have to try and follow in his footsteps.”

While father Andy Tod is a legend at the football club manager James McPake has suggested that the young player deserves to be allowed to develop in his own way and be under no pressure to follow in every footstep of his father. Andrew agreed:-

“Yeah, because I am my own person at the end of the day so I need to try and stamp my authority on the pitch.”

Father joined Dunfermline Athletic when Bert Paton got him to sign from junior outfit Kelty Hearts in November 1993. Initially he was a midfielder but was soon deployed in central defence. Andrew claimed that midfield was his best position:-

“I just want to play football so anywhere the manager asks me to play, I will play. Centre midfield is my favourite position but I can play in numerous amounts of positions, I have even played goalie before.”

Andrew is a graduate of the SFA performance school based at Broughton High School in Edinburgh. That made a great impact on him:-

“It was amazing, I was at Broughton with Keith Wright and it was a massive part of my development just getting football every day. Sometimes one hour, sometimes two hours a day. It was great for your technical ability getting touches of the ball every day.”

Now full time at Dunfermline Andrew and the four other recent apprentice recruits are enjoying even more football. He feels that is making a huge difference to them and it is not just Andrew who has experienced a taste of playing in the first team. Sam Young was a substitute at Cove while Michael Beagley and Jake Rennie also figured against Buckie Thistle:-

“Everyone is showing great talent to be honest. Everyone of them works hard on the training field and when they got their chance out there they did well. It was really good.”

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