Bridie stakes it out

Scott McBride still only 18 but many have great expectations for the teenager

Scott McBride (right) on his first team debut

Scott McBride was handed his first team debut against Hearts in the CIS Insurance Cup on 26th September last year, just a week after his 18th birthday. He admits that his selection came as a bit of a shock even to himself. The lad from Glenrothes made four appearances under Stephen Kenny but now has ambitions to impress Jim McIntyre.

"This season I hope to push as much as possible for a first team place. I would like to make the bench and if I get on the park try and impress the Manager so that I can work my way into a start."

Twelve appearances while on loan to Arbroath from February last season provided him with two goals but he considers it was also a great learning curve:-

"Arbroath toughened me up a bit and it showed me the tricks of the trade with the experienced players. I realised how tough it actually is. The standard wasn't the same as the First Division, especially Dunfermline, but it was more beneficial to my game than the under 19s. I scored a couple of goals as well which is good."

Scott was a member of the pre season tour to Austria and he thoroughly enjoyed all the involvement:-

"My first trip away with the boys was good" he said with the admission that team spirit was vitally important. "We are all together this year, the Manager has made that clear. It is a small squad, there are only twenty of us.

"That is why he is keeping us tight. He took us on a golf day last week and he is just trying to keep us all together - getting on with everyone. If you start niggling with each other, its not what you want. "

Scott watched the Pars 3-0 win at McDiarmid Park from the Main Stand and was particularly pleased to see Graham Bayne accept the chip from Nick Phinn to net his first league goal for the club. " It was a great goal as well."

Sitting out the first team match meant that Scott played in the U19s against Ayr United the next day. After 35 minutes he scored the equaliser for the Pars even taking a punch in the face from the Ayr keeper in the progress. He acknowledges that he has to continue to make his mark at that level if he wants to press for a place in the first team squad:-

"If I am not getting a game in the first team, I will just have to keep trying in the under 19s."

Scott receiving an award at the Sports Dinner, May 2008