Another for family album

"No matter how many first team starts I make, I think he will always remind me that I have not played for Scotland Under 21s yet!"

Seventeen year old Ryan Williamson made his second start for Dunfermline's first team on Saturday in the League One match against Forfar Athletic and just as in his first match against Brechin City, he was voted the Man of the Match. Speaking exclusively to the website Ryan described his game:-

"It was obviously a good feeling again to be given the chance, I felt that I performed well enough in the first game and the gaffer took me and Ross Millen aside before the game and said that he wanted to give me as much game time and experience as he could. He thought Saturday was a great opportunity for that and that's why I got the chance.

"I started off quite nervously but I got into the game and, second half especially, I thought that I did well."

It will be no secret in the Millen household that Ross is a doubt for Saturday and since father, Andy is Ayr United's first team coach Saturday's opponents will be aware that Ryan Williamson is likely to play. Both Ryan's starts have been at home and on Saturday he felt the crowd in the North West Stand get right behind him in the second half when his team was attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end.

"I have been played in home games to build up my experience and getting used to first team matches. The crowd get right behind us and give us that extra boost. There will be a completely different atmosphere when most of the crowd is against you. I am just going to keep doing what I have been doing, knocking on the door and see what happens."

Ryan has been an unused sub in the two cup matches against Ayr United and could be ideally placed to identify why it proved so hard to knock Ayr out of the Scottish Cup:-

"They are a well organised team and up there with us in doing well in the league. I think it is just a good group of players with good chemistry amongst the team. They want to do better against the best teams in the league." Ryan added:-

"It will be a tough game, but it is a big game in the league. We take every game as it comes and do our best to win every match."

Appearances for the Pars are in danger of getting entangled with his Scotland call up. Just last week Ryan and his team mate Lewis Martin were invited to take part in the Scotland U18 training at Largs for three days from Wednesday 18th December.

"Me and Lewis feel it was a great achievement for both of us. We are delighted that they have obviously been watching us and think that we are good enough to take part in the camp. I will look forward to that and meeting boys there from Man United, Real Madrid and the Old Firm. It will be a good challenge and good experience for me and Lewis."

Ryan's father Andy (pictured below with Jim Leishman) made 25 appearances for Dunfermline between 1987 and 1993 and he has warned his son not to get too carried away with these early first team appearances.  Ryan continued:-

"He tells me to keep my feet on the ground, work at it and do the best that I can. No matter how many first team starts I make, I think he will always remind me that I have not played for Scotland Under 21s yet!"

The challenge then is to be as good as his Dad and the last thing he wants to do is get carried away with himself. Ryan continued:-

"I can't let my performance drop and start thinking that I am better than I actually am. It is key to keep training, keep listening to John Potter and doing the best that I can to improve."

While father Andy carries out the calming influence other family members have enjoyed Ryan's rapid rise from the Under 17s to first team football in under 12 months. Mother and Grandad on his mother's side, Roger Brown, have been delighted for the Auchmuty High School former pupil:-

"My Grandad comes to games with my Dad but he just loves it. He travels from Glenrothes as well and never misses it home or away"

Grandad keeps a scrap book of Ryan's success story and hopefully that will grow into volumes in the years ahead. Success does not come without its problems however, since as well as three days at Largs next week, Ryan could be looking at coming straight back to play for Dunfermline against Arbroath.

John Potter on Scotland call ups