Hopkirk and Johnston re-united

Hoppy made only six appearances off the bench for Johnston with less than an hour in total on the pitch.

David Hopkirk is hoping that a pre season at a full time club like Dunfermline can help him achieve the success that he and the fans seek. Talking exclusively to this website he said:-

"Everybody hates it but it is good for you. I was part time last year when I did pre season training but this is a lot harder. I have done it at Queen of the South with him as well, it is the same kind of stuff but it will prepare us for the season. I think you have to work hard to get where you want to go."

David has previously played under Allan Johnston and he feels that success back in 2012-13 was a result of the hard work done in pre season:-

"Queen of the South were flying at the time and they went on to win the league. They made it look easy and I think that came from the pre season and a good start."

Nineteen years of age at the time, Hoppy made only six appearances off the bench for Johnston with less than an hour in total on the pitch before joining Annan Athletic on loan in October for the rest of the season.

"All the boys are looking fit; fitter than at other clubs I have been at to be honest. We should have a good season." With the prospect of several double sessions the 22 year old is hungry for success and concedes that all the pain is worthwhile:-

"Obviously at the time you are not feeling that you are winning but after you feel good and you get a rest before you go to the gym. You need to get stronger and fitter and I think that is the gaffer's aim to be fitter and stronger than other teams and wear them down.

After arriving at East End Park in January Hopkirk was keen to succeed but the season ended without that. He reflected:-

"I enjoyed it. I liked working with the old gaffer, Potts, and obviously Neil McCann helped me a lot as well with me being a winger. I learned stuff from them that I will take into this season. Hopefully I can learn more with the gaffer and Sandy Clark coming in. I have had them before but didn't play much because they were winning. You cannot change a winning team, I understand that, but we will see how it goes this time."

Claiming that he is naturally fit, David did not stop when the 2014-2015 season ended:-

"I kept going to the gym, doing weights and going to the boxing circuit. I have a girlfriend as well who is at university so I could not take my holiday until later so I only came back on the Monday before we came back in but I feel sharper already.

"I came in mid season and in the last ten minutes of games I felt that I did not have that fitness. I was going to the gym but with a good pre season I can feel fitter still."