Opportunity for seventeen year old

What a difference a year makes for Bonnybridge's Lewis Martin

Seventeen year old Lewis Martin made his East End Park debut in the pre season friendly against Hearts and after coming on in 65th minute to replace John Potter, he enjoyed every minute of it:-

"It was brilliant and a really good experience. I didn't know that I was definitely playing but did hope that I might get a part."

Lewis' only previous first team appearance was at Morton in April when he was a stoppage time sub for Allan Smith. After that he occupied a place on the first team bench for the remainder of the season but had attracted a number of favourable reports for his performance in the SFA Youth Cup final versus Celtic in May this year. The former Rangers youth player joined Dunfermline at U17 level for season 2011-2012 so this year is his first taste of big time pre season. He commented on the step up:-

"The training this year has been a lot harder. Neil McCann has made it different each day; there is different running - long distance or short distance it is different every time."

All this is a big change from twelve months ago. Lewis had only just joined John Potter's under 20 squad and had still to feature at that level. After breaking into the under 20 team against Hibs in September he became an ever present and has great hopes that he can make the first team squad this season:-

"I was at Rangers from under tens through to the start of under seventeens and then I was up against it on my Dunfermline debut against Sefki Kuqi but this season everyone feels that they have a chance of first team football."

Lewis who was reunited with Stephen Wright, his U12s coach at Rangers, when he came to Dunfermline was able to replace John Potter on Saturday and in the absence of Callum Morris through injury, it was Kerr Young that Lewis came on to form the central defence with against Hearts. The duo have plenty experience of playing together in the 20s last season and looked very comfortable against the SPL opposition.

While Lewis is appreciative of Alan Boyd, his coach at Murray Park he is grateful to John Potter for more than just making way for him to play on Saturday:-

"John has loads of experience and coaches me in training telling me what to do, what I am doing wrong and how to improve my game. In the under 20s last season he helped me a lot to improve my passing."

For such a young player Lewis is very confident and displays considerable cool in the face of adversity. He should be one to look out for this season.