Spencer now ‘thriving’ at Raith after Loons spell

ROVERS: Forfar move helped midfielder regain confidence after quitting Killie

Raith Rovers midfielder Brad Spencer admits his brief taste of parttime football only made him more determined to realise his potential.

The 23-year-old had six-month stints with Dumbarton and Forfar Athletic after quitting Kilmarnock in search of first-team opportunities last summer.

He admits leaving Rugby Park was a ‘shock to the system’ as he weighed up whether to pursue a career away from the game.

However, Spencer impressed sufficiently during the Loons’ eyecatching League One campaign to earn a switch to Rovers during the close season – returning the classy midfielder to the fulltime ranks as part of the Fifers’ unique mixed status squad.

He said: “I was part-time at Forfar and that was a bit of a shock to the system. It made me want to work and get back to full-time football at the highest level possible.

“It was a step back to try and move forward. You initially look at it and say ‘I don’t want to go part-time’ but the bottom line is I needed to play games.

“When you make that move you start to look around and think ‘I’m going to need to find another job’. But I was just so determined to get my head down, work even harder and get back to fulltime football.

“Now I am playing every week it has been beneficial to me. You can see from my performances that I’m getting fitter and stronger.”

Spencer’s immediate impact was underlined last week when he signed a contract extension which ties him to table-topping Raith until the summer of 2021 – mere months after joining the club.

He continued: “I’ve enjoyed it since coming to Raith. It has been a style of football that I wanted to come and be a part of.

“I’m thriving here, loving working with the gaffer and the boys here. It’s a close-knit group and I didn’t think twice about extending my stay here.

“I’m determined to get the club back to where it belongs – in the Championship and maybe even higher.”

Meanwhile the draw for the quarterfinals of the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup was made at Hampden Park yesterday and saw Raith, who dispatched Northern Irish outfit Glenavon 3-1 on Saturday, handed a home tie with League 2 Elgin City.

Spencer added: “We want a cup run and to try to win something as a player. That would be a real bonus to our season.”

The Borough Briggs outfit have already claimed the scalps of Dundee and Airdrieonians on their way to reaching the last eight.

Rovers are previous winners of the tournament, famously beating Rangers 1-0 in the final in 2014.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle host Clyde, while Solihull Moors or Rangers Colts face Wrexham and Partick Thistle are away to Stenhousemuir.

Quarter-final ties are scheduled for the weekend of November 15-17 and are subject to TV selections.

Picture: SNS. Brad Spencer was a big hit with Forfar last season as he helped the Loons finish second in the league before securing a return to full-time football with Raith Rovers.