Dumbarton FC: New signing Ross O'Donoghue looks forward to a lie-in

Jun 26 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

ROSS O’Donoghue is delighted to join up at Dumbarton – as it means he can now get a longer lie-in on a Saturday.

The midfielder has signed for Sons on a one-year deal after two seasons travelling from his Glasgow home to play for Elgin City.

The 380-mile round trip meant he had to get up at 6.30am for every ‘home’ game, so his move to the Rock is a handy one.

But the 26-year-old, who was team captain at Borough Briggs, says the main reason for the transfer was the chance to move up a division.

He said: “It’s a really good move for me and an opportunity to play at a higher level, so I am now really looking forward to next season.

“Hopefully things will go better for me than they did on my last visit to the Strathclyde Homes Stadium, when Elgin lost 6-0 last month!

“Obviously it was a pretty grim season for me last year, finishing bottom of the third division, so I hope I can be part of a more successful team.

“I’m quite looking forward to less travelling as well. It was a very long journey to Elgin for home games, so I won’t have to get up at 6.30am any more!

“But the main factor in my decision was that it is a step up for me and it was a chance I could not turn down.”

Ross spent several years at Aberdeen as a youngster before moving into the junior ranks with Pollok.

He trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Saturday, in an informal training session organised after the tragic death of captain Gordon Lennon.

Ross scored two long-distance goals against Sons in season 2007/08, but is warning the fans not to expect more of the same.

He added: “I know a couple of the players already from younger days and they all seem to be a good group of boys.

“Obviously it was tragic circumstances that got them together on Saturday. I didn’t know Gordon personally but it was devastating for everybody and puts everything in perspective.

“I think we can do well this season. Another reason I joined is that whenever I’ve played against Dumbarton, they’ve always played football the right way.

“That’s how I like to play, so hopefully in the second division there will be an opportunity to do more of that.

“I think I’m more of a creative player than a goalscorer. I scored twice for Elgin against Dumbarton, but only scored one other goal in two seasons!

“The next month will be a lot of hard work, but I hope we will be rewarded with a successful season. I know there is a big challenge ahead.”