Gibson scores at Stranraer

Former Pars midfielder, Willie Gibson signed for Stranraer just ahead of their home match against Dunfermline and he scored the equaliser just before half time.

Willie spoke to the media after the match and gave an insight into his route to Stranraer:-

"It is good to be back playing football. I thought that we deserved something out of the game. That would have been a bonus.

"A goal on my debut is good although three points would have been better. I am pleased but the result is a low blow."

Willie left Dunfermline to join Crawley Town and he went on to play for several other clubs and was keen to elaborate on his moves:-

"The move to Crawley was one where money talked rather than the head. On my behalf it was a bad mistake. I never enjoyed it. I had to look at the bigger picture; I am a family person and I probably should have considered that more before I went down there.

"It was never set up to really work. It wasn't due to not playing that I came back, it was a family commitment. My wife was still teaching in Stirling from when I was at Dunfermline so I was commuting. Down to training on a Monday, back up on a Tuesday night to see my wife then back at the weekends. It was never going to work.

"After that I had a loan move to St Johnstone which I thoroughly enjoyed until Derek McInnes left. I played under him regularly in the couple of months I was there. Then Lomas came in and just didn't fancy me.

"I bided my time, negotiated a release from Crawley and came up to Falkirk. I enjoyed my time there. You hear a lot of rumours and people talk. All I can say that until you are in the dressing room you don't know.

"There have been a lot of things said. I am not a 'bad apple' - I have heard it all before. You have to live with that.

"Celtic Nation excited me but when I was on a family holiday, Willie McStay phoned me and told me that there was not a club. Well there was a club but there was no money. The contract that I had agreed had been taken off the table.

"Scotland starts earlier and the Challenge Cup was on the Saturday just two days after the Thursday I found out on. It was always going to be difficult to find a club. I called a favour in with Gavin Skelton (at Workington) who I played with at Kilmarnock, to keep me fit. I would help him to play and he would help me out with fitness.

"When I got the call from the manager I was just raring to go to be honest.

"There were no worries for me, I get stick wherever I go, I just take it on the chin and that's it. You might hear the Dunfermline fans: I think you will expect that . A lot of it is good banter and uncalled for but you will get that at any ground.

"What the Dunfermline fans have got to remember is how well I did for them when I was there and the money I made for the club as well through a difficult period. I am not saying that it would have been different if I had stayed but I did well there and can hold my head up high.

"I know personally that I reached a level that I wanted to be. Now I want to get back on the ladder and try and do the best I can."

Willie didn't think there was any problem regards his signing for Stranraer but he received a call as he was driving to meet up with the team bus in Central Scotland on Saturday morning.

"I was half an hour away from meeting them when I received a call saying that I was going to need to make a few phone calls. I was told when I had signed a non contract which I had signed instead of a normal contract because it was non league and they told me that if a club comes in for me all I need to do is cancel the contract and I was free to play.

"The manager phoned me about 11.30 and said that I would need to phone somebody at Workington because I had not had clearance. That went through about ten past twelve."

Willie is hopeful that he can be on a winning side next Saturday when Stranraer are at home to Falkirk in the Petrofac Training Cup.

"The pressure is off Falkirk, they are a good team. I am sure their fans will give me a good welcome back as well. Then back to league business the following week where I can expect an even better reception up at Ayr. I can take it so bring it on! I give it out so I have got to take it.

"Fans know that if they give it out and I score I can have a little banter back. It is not malice; I do not hold grudges and I just hope that other people don't hold grudges either."

Willie's contract is until 11th January so that both sides can look at each other. Every game will be an away game for him but he acknowledged that he could not have a stadium and play for a team beside his house:-

"It is a good club Stranraer. I am impressed with the players so far. Thursday night's training was lively and in spells they played really well against Dunfermline. Dunfermline to their credit did really well as well."