Thomson top of the class at new club Ton
ROBERT THOMSON has thanked Morton for allowing him to continue working towards his degree after making the step back up to full-time football with the Cappielow club this summer.
The former Dumbarton forward had been juggling part-time football with Brechin and the Sons with his university course since his release from Dunfermline in 2013.
Having been used to full-time football since joining Dundee United as a kid, that was a body blow, but he regrouped and was enjoying the balance between his studies and starring for Stevie Aitken’s side last season.
That’s why the decision to go back full-time at this stage of his life wasn’t as straightforward as it might appear, but with Morton allowing him to continue the final year of his studies, he has decided to take the plunge.
And now that he has adjusted back to a full-time training programme, he is hoping to cap off a successful year with a great season for his club before graduating next summer.
“The last time I was full-time was three-anda-half years ago, so since then I’ve just been training twice a week at night,” Thomson told SportTimes.
“Even getting up in the morning and training every day is taking a wee bit of getting used to, but it’s been enjoyable, and I’m back into the swing of things now.
“I made two appearances for Dundee United back then, but I was under no illusions. When Peter Houston was the manager I didn’t do too well coming up to the end of my contract, so I was thinking in my head that I was leaving anyway.
“Then at Christmas Jackie McNamara came in, and he gave me a chance. I felt as if I had done well and that things were moving in the right direction.
“I made my two appearances two weeks on the bounce, then the following week I was told I was being let go.
“It was hard to take, especially as I had been there from the age of 11. I think things have worked out for the better now though.
“I thought I was capable of going back full-time, but because I was at university it was something that never really crossed my mind. I wouldn’t have given up my degree to have gone back full-time.
“I’m doing fire risk engineering, so the thought was to play part-time and decide whether I wanted to try to make that step back to full-time or to continue with that as a career.”
Thomson got 11 goals for Dumbarton last season, making him confident that he can help Morton replicate last season’s success once they get some of their injured regulars back in the side.
And he is hoping that they can put a patchy Betfred Cup campaign so far behind them by beating Edinburgh City today to qualify for the next stage.
“I know I can score goals and do well at this level,” he said.
“It’s not went exactly to plan so far for us, but we’ve not had a settled team. There are a lot of injuries and a lot of new players, and we’re still trying to come to terms with how the manager wants us to play.”