Paul Willis Post Livingston

Boot boy selected for first team. Home debut for kid of 1991

Paul Willis was almost a full year younger than the age that Nick Phinn made his first team debut, and on Saturday he made his home debut when coming on near the end of the match against Livingston.  Outside the squad system, there can be few opportunities for any player to play with his age on his back but for the lad from Edinburgh, Pars no.16 was just that on Saturday.

The former Royal High School pupil, who has been pushing the first team kit in and out at away games, talked about his swift rise to first team football at East End Park.

"It is brilliant to get the opportunity to play with first team players. I have been working hard in training and I hope to get even more of a chance than I am getting just now."

Paul Willis taking on Livingston's Cammy MacDonald

The 16 year old is not Dunfermline's youngest ever player, Alex Edwards holds that at 16 years 5 days, but he is one of the youngest ever. He acknowledged his achievement:-

"Pressure comes with that but I just try and put that out of my head and play when asked. Most of the first team players have taken to me and enjoyed playing with me. I have enjoyed playing with them, it's great to be playing with them."

Post match his Manager had praise for the right sided midfielder who came off the bench for the second successive match:-

"He is a good young kid who has shown well in training. That's why he is there."

Paul who has stood out in Hamish French's U19 team this season with his appetite to take on and beat defenders, said that Jim McIntyre has encouraged him:-

"Against Clyde although I was only on for a short time he just said I did brilliantly and keep it up. He said more will come. Today he told me to get at the defence, just go on and drive. Keep talking to the players, the first team players will help you.

Scott McBride and Iain Williamson have come through from the Under 19s, Scott is currently on loan to Arbroath where he scored the winning goal against local rivals Montrose on Saturday but Paul was very aware that he was selected ahead of Iain who was watching from the stand:-

"It came as a surprise to me today to see Iain left out but that's just the way it goes in football sometimes. You are brought in before first team players and you just have to deal with it."