Good place to be

"It is a young team and the gaffer, Neil McCann and Potts are not afraid to play young players so this is probably the best club to be at."

Lewis Spence and Ross Drummond meet the mike

Lewis Spence has just turned 18 and Ross Drummond will be 20 in March but both are delighted to have made it to the first team in recent weeks.  The arrival of three new signings at the end of the January transfer window however possibly means that more appearances might be later rather than sooner.

Nevertheless Lewis was especially pleased that his first match was against the team that he has supported all his life:-

"To make my debut against Rangers on live television was good. Even though it was only five minutes it was good. At Brechin, it wasn't a good result but it was good for me to get twenty minutes. I got a few good touches in. It was a bit more physical but you get a bit more time on the ball."

Lewis Spence

Midfielder Lewis was at Rangers for four years from U12 to U15s but his opponents at East End were from the age group above him. He was brought up in Crosshill, attended Beath High School and played for Blue Brazil Boys Club before joining Hearts at U11. He considers his game has improved from a few months back:-

"I have been working harder, Potts and Neil McCann have been encouraging me. That got me on the subs bench a few times."

Lewis Spence v Rangers

After four appearances last season, Ross Drummond returned to the first team on 2nd January when Alex Whittle was injured and forced to come off at half time. The left back was appointed to take the corners from the right that day and despite never taking corners in the Under 19s or Under 20s proved an immediate hit. His last gasp corner allowed Andy Geggan to head in the winner.

Ross played his first football with Burntisland Shipyard but is one of Dunfermline's longest serving players since he joined at Under 10 level. In the match following his Stenhousemuir appearance, he started his first ever game for the Pars at home to Stranraer. In that match his 34th minute corner was headed home by Ryan Thomson. Up until then the presence of Ross Millen in teams that he has played for has prevented him taking corners.

Ross Drummond

"I got a taste of first team games when I came off the bench last season and knew what to expect. I was still a wee bit nervous because we were only 1-0 up and they were pressing us right away for an equaliser. Once I got into the game I was fine and obviously it was good to start the following week. I felt I continued from where I left off at Stenhousemuir."

Ross feels that he plateaued a bit after breaking into the Under 19s a year ahead of his time but recent appearances in the 20s have seen him progress to be able to be in contention for the first team. He claimed that facing experienced over age players in 20s games has had a big effect on his game.

Ross Drummond v Stranraer

The youngsters are hoping to make more first team appearances and are delighted that Jim Jefferies watches all the Under 20s games. The success of others who have come up through the youth system breaking into the first team - Shaun Byrne, Kerr Young, Lewis Martin, Ross Millen, Ryan Williamson - gives Lewis and Ross hope that they can get their chance at East End Park too.

Both players contracts are up at the end of the season so they know that they are playing for new contracts and trying to catch the manager's eye in training and Under 20's. Lewis added:-

"It is a young team and the gaffer, Neil McCann and Potts are not afraid to play young players so this is probably the best club to be at."