The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Allan enjoying life at Links Park alongside cup hero
Defender has regained his appetite for the game at Links Park
As a child, Matty Allan travelled to Hampden in 2010 to watch Dundee United win the Scottish Cup.
Now, eight years on, he has to pinch himself that he is playing at Montrose alongside one of the players who lifted the famous old trophy that day at the National Stadium – former Tangerines skipper Sean Dillon.
Allan may have grown up a United fan but he came through the ranks at Dundee.
He was released by the Dark Blues last summer and was quickly snapped up by Gable Endies boss Stewart Petrie.
The 22-year-old defender had enjoyed playing for the Angus club on loan last season – the second time he had done so – and he believed Links Park was the ideal place for him to revitalise his career.
He has now rediscovered his love for the game and has helped Montrose to pole position at the top of League 2 with promotion and the title now firmly within their grasp.
Allan said: “When I was younger, my dad always took me to Dundee United games.
“But then I was playing at the weekends and when I eventually signed for Dundee, I became more of a Dundee supporter than anything.
“The 2010 cup final at Hampden was probably one of the last United games I went to.
“I was at Hampden celebrating with my dad and uncle.
“It is strange to think that I am now playing alongside one of the cup winners in Sean.
“He probably doesn’t even know I was there.”
Allan added: “It was a big wrench leaving Dundee as I had four seasons there. To be honest, towards the end of last season, it wasn’t too much of a shock (to be released).
“As a player when you are in that situation, you kind of know the way things are going.
“I had already been on loan at Montrose and I knew what my options were before it happened.
“It is still not easy though. I had come to terms with it but actually hearing it is still tough.
“That last season at Dundee was really difficult for me. I wasn’t enjoying playing or being full-time.
“That’s just the way it is when you aren’t getting a chance.
“I then went back on loan to Montrose and the gaffer was asking me what my plans were for this season.
“I tried to keep my options open for as long as possible but I was happy here, the boys were great, we were doing well getting to the play-offs and I also get on well with the gaffer.
“I was just looking to get back to enjoying my football and I thought this was the place to do that.
“I am doing that a lot more now even although it is part-time.
“That takes a bit of getting used to and you have to go out and get a real job, so to speak.
“You have to come to terms with that but I am certainly enjoying my football a lot more compared to last year.”
That “real job” is at a famous hotel at the home of golf.
Allan said: “I am working as a personal trainer.
“I had come to the end of my contract and I still hadn’t decided what I wanted to do but I was getting nagged by my parents.
“The opportunity then came up to get my qualification through the PFA.
“Scott Agnew who plays for Stranraer has a gym in Glasgow and they offer discount rates for PFA members. I got it done in six weeks and then I managed to get a job at a gym in Dundee.
“I worked there for a few months but I am now a personal trainer at St Andrews at the Old Course Hotel.
“If you had told me I would be doing that a year ago . . . it is weird how it has worked out.”