Craig’s Kilby dream
New defender sets his sights on reaching SPFL
Craig Reid hopes his experience can help East Kilbride finally make the step up to SPFL football this season.
The 32-year-old central defender put pen to paper at K-Park last week and the new signing went straight into the starting 11 for Saturday’s 1-0 friendly win over Formartine United.
Kil by gaffer Brian Kerr told the News earlier this month he was keen to strengthen his back line and find a suitable partner for young centrebacks Craig Howie and Edin Lynch.
And Reid, who has won league titles with Dunfermline and Ayr United, appears to be the final piece of the jigsaw for the Lowland League title hopefuls.
Spartans pipped EK to the crown last season and although the K-Park side won the title in 2016/17, they missed out on promotion after losing to Cowdenbeath on penalties in the SPFL play-off final.
So Reid hopes he can help change the record.
He said: “Hopefully I can use my experience of playing at a higher level to help the younger boys, but also help the team be successful.
“I want to improve the side as a whole.
“The manager has been trying to bring in players who have played at a higher level to improve the squad and get the club where they want to be.
“They are trying to bridge that gap between the Lowland League and League Two and I hope this is the year when they get over that last hurdle.
“I played with Craig Howie at the weekend and he seems a decent player. I’ll try and help him understand my game and create a partnership.
“Young Edin has broke into the team at the back as well and that’s what you want, to have good youngsters and guys with experience who can work together to bring the team forward.”
Having started his career with Celtic’s youth team, Reid has amassed more than 200 senior appearances during spells at Queen of the South, Mother well, Morton and Icelandic side Keflavik.
Reid helped Dunfermline achieve promotion to the Championship in 2016 and last season won the League One title with Ayr, so he is relishing the opportunity to add a third success to his CV.
The personal trainer added: “It’s a new challenge and something that appeals to me.
“It’s the first time I’ve been part-time. I’ve always been full-time at clubs, but I’m doing a lot of PT (personal training) now, so it ties in well.
“I’m doing a lot of hours in the gym as I try to plan for life after football as well.
“East Kilbride are a really ambitious club and it’s a project that appeals to me.
“I won the league last season with Ayr and I’ve won it before with Dunfermline as well, so it would be great to help East Kilbride do the same and get promotion.”