The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pars winger says lesson learned
David Hopkirk tells of tough time as youngster chasing bigger move
David Hopkirk says he was led astray as a youngster by prospect of a career in England and allowed agents to turn his head.
The Dunfermline winger opened his heart on the events that left him frozen out of football.
Hopkirk was one of the brightest young talents at Hamilton when he emerged as part of a generation include Stephen Hendrie and Brian Easton, turning out against Celtic as a teenager in 2011.
His potential caught the eye of suitors south of the border and Hopkirk says he did not have the maturity to shun talk of interest coming from his representatives, despite the best efforts of his dad.
A contract impasse with Hamilton, who held his registration, followed as Hopkirk sought to work his ticket.
He took a job at Scotmid in his spell out of the game.
Hopkirk said: “I was playing in the SPL for Hamilton when I was 17, I was playing for Scotland under-19s. I should have stayed there, kept my head down and worked hard. But I went through agents, got disillusioned and people were filling my head with rubbish.
“I should have listened to my dad, who told me just to keep playing, and I’ve learned from that,” he said.
“I had trials down at West Brom, Cardiff and a few other clubs, but after my time out the game I wasn’t ready. That’s when I went to Scotmid.”
“I’m being honest, I got too big for my boots. The dream for most boys is to get a move to England, and that got into my head. I was young and messed up.
“Boys I played with like Stephen Hendrie did that and got moves. Brian Easton was the same, but you want to chase the bigger move when sometimes maybe you should sit back and realise how lucky you are.”
Hopkirk was speaking as Dunfermline announced a sponsorship deal with fastfood giants McDonald’s.
Hopkirk juggled a day job with his time out of the game and playing parttime with Annan.
“I got the move to Queen of the South when I least expected it and, of course, you want to be playing full-time, but it did give me perspective that there’s life beyond football.”
The Pars still retain play-off aspirations ahead of today’s derby against Falkirk, with Hopkirk looking to add to his second goal of the season against Dumbarton last weekend.
He said: “I just feel like I need a run of games. I’ve got another year on my contract and I am desperate to show what I can do.”