The PJ Crossan Interview

Paul Joseph Crossan: the Pars youth player's interview as published in the game, DAFC's match day programme v Dundee

Sixteen year old, Paul Joseph Crossan a second year apprentice with Dunfermline Athletic introduces himself:-

"I come from Motherwell, went to Dalziel High School where PE was my favourite subject. I started playing football at Yett Farm Boys Club in Newarthill and usually I play striker but I can play wide as well. I like both roles, upfront and wide going one v one.

What is a normal week for PJ as he is know by all his mates?

"We train on a Monday along with the first team boys who haven't started on a Saturday. It is not that hard since we can have games on a Tuesday. We are off on a Wednesday, then Thursday is quite a hard day. John Ritchie can come in on a Friday to help us with our college work and I do the boots for Michael Moffat and Ryan Wallace. On a Saturday if we are at home we can come in and do a bit of training or running."

What do you do on your day off?
"Take the dog for a walk! I don't have a job outside football."

Last year you left with the intention of doing a pre pre-season with Andy Barrowman, did that happen?

"Andy only lives five minutes away from me. Even though he had left the club he even text me to come with him. When he left the club he took me out training to develop me and made sure that I was doing something to keep me fit. It was good and I did get fitter. I have always been stalky but I toned it up and came back better than when I left."

For a youngster PJ you are quite strong on the pitch, quite quick something that no doubt earned the call up to the Scotland Under 17 squad last season. Do you hope to get back into the national squad?

"I would like to but it jumps from under seventeen to under nineteens. I don't think there is an under eighteens. Obviously there is more competition to get into it - Ryan Williamson and Lewis Martin have been at those training camps. It is going to be more difficult because there are more players to pick from."

What does an apprentice have to do at the club?

"We are put in teams of twos and threes and we all have jobs. These swap around after a month. I started doing the kitchen and after the kitchen me, Cammy McClair and Brandon Luke are on first team duties. We get their kit into Mo Hutton for washing and make sure the towels are ready. We are kept busy."

What do you hope to achieve this season?

"I would like to start more games for the 20s. Towards the end of last season I played two full games. This season I have played two full games in friendlies and the league so I want to get a full 90 minutes every week.

"The first team players who are played with us help us and they are all positive. It is good for us that they are able to play with us. It is good too playing against players like Josh Magennis and Lee Ashworth who then started against Celtic. It is good experience, it is tough but it is the only way to get better."

How do you feel about the month long gap between the Development League fixture at Kilmarnock and the next against Hearts?

"John Potter usually gets us friendlies if we are not playing league games. We played against Hamilton recently just to keep us ticking over."

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