More Hoppy days at Dunfermline
Monday, 18th Apr 2016David Hopkirk has signed a new contract that will keep him at East End Park until May 2018.
David Hopkirk told the website:-
"When I first came I said that I wanted to win promotion and earn another full time contract. I have done that and given a run of games I think that I am good enough for the Championship.
"I have played in every league in Scotland. At Hamilton I played in the Championship when they got relegated before I left to go to Queen of the South. When I return to that level it will be a bit harder but wider parks will suit me and I can use my pace. If we can keep the squad together and bring in some better players hopefully we can do well."
When David arrived at Dunfermline he confessed to possibly being guilty of not making the best the full time opportunity provided. This time he intended to grab the opportunity.
"I am flying in training and think that I have done alright. The gaffer has told me that, and that I would just have to wait my turn. Joe Cardle, Faissal (El Bakhtaoui) and the team were just good together."
Stranraer were the opposition when Allan Johnston gave him his first start of the 2015-2016 season in October. He had started all three of the Pars pre season friendlies but an injury kept him out of the opening fixture at Arbroath and as the team went on a 4-1, 5-1, 6-1, 7-1 winning run the player who was 23 in January, found it hard to break into a winning side:-
"I was unlucky because I was in the team. I think I am good enough but I could not moan about not being in the team at the start of the season. During the season I got frustrated playing in the 20s because I have been playing 20s since I was sixteen. Hopefully next season I can come back flying."
Does Hoppy feel he fits into the Allan Johnston style of playing?
"I don't know, I think he is going to give me a few games just to find where I am best. To be fair I don't even know my position now. I go left, right, upfront almost everywhere. I played midfield at Hamilton, anywhere as long as I am getting a game and enjoying it!
"I enjoy playing upfront but at Hamilton I played in the 'hole' but we don't play that style. It is up to the gaffer at the end of the day."
Some might have thought that David would have been one of those least likely to be offered a new contract because he had parted company with Allan Johnston before when the pair were at Palmerston. He put that right:-
"The gaffer offered me a contract before I left Queen of the South. I wasn't playing there either. I just left to go to Annan Athletic to enjoy football. It was not because I was not good enough, it was just because the team were doing well and gelled. There like here, I just understood that I had to wait my turn. Hopefully next year will be a better year for me.
"I had a few options elsewhere but I enjoy it at Dunfermline. It is a great club, a big club and the boys are brilliant. Hopefully we can keep them together. I enjoy it here so there is no point in moving on."
The atmosphere and the stadium at East End Park was clearly a pull for David who joined Dunfermline from Annan Athletic in January 2014. That move from part time to full time meant that he could give up his part time job at Scotmid in Alexandria, he continued:-
"Everyone wants to play in that stadium every week, it is a great stadium, pitch and fans are brilliant. I am glad to be signing for another two years."
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