Rebuilding work pays off for new man Ebbe
DEAN EBBE, Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s January signing, went from doling out pots of tea in a bricklayers’ yard to bagging a deal with a Scottish Premiership club.
Given that whirlwind transformation, the 22-year-old could be forgiven for being a young man in a hurry to grasp his big chance and true vocation.
When he arrived at the club in early January, manager Richie Foran described the former Shamrock Rovers youth and Bluebell United amateur as “probably one for the future”.
Ebbe was having none of that. A goal and an assist in the development league victory against Rangers this week had Foran revising that early assessment. The quiet-spoken young striker agrees, describing himself as ready to come in and “score straight away” in Scotland’s top-flight.
Yet only a few months ago, the young Dubliner had accepted his dream of making a full-time career in the game was done – football was to be a sideline, a hobby.
After an ill-fated spell at Shamrock, the career path dipped downwards through spells at Longford Town, Athlone Town and Cabinteely.
Last season, he dropped out of the League of Ireland to join Collinstown in the Dublin Athletic Union League, before joining Bluebell – a club with a reputation for rebuilding the careers of faltering talents.
Brighton’s Richie Towell, Bohemians striker Izzy Akinade and Shamrock Rovers winger Brandon Miele all spent time with Bluebell in recent seasons before reviving fortunes.
Ebbe, though, had basically thrown in the towel – but, crucially, kept banging in the goals with a relish at the lower level.
The Inverness manager took him in on trial in September after sending a scout. The report landing on his desk detailed a four-goal individual spree.
In Foran’s eyes, he remains raw with aspects of the game still to learn, but with a natural eye for goal and talent in and around the penalty box.
The striker said: “After trials, Caley Thistle asked me to sign in the January transfer window. I came back over for two spells after that to help keep fit.
“It’s exciting, it’s the first time I’ve been a fully professional player. At home I played at part-time and amateur levels.
“I was a bricklayer back home, but not for very long. My job was mainly getting teas and coffees for the older lads.
“I’m 22 now and I genuinely thought I’d missed my chance of making a career in football. I thought it would be a hobby, rather than an actual job.”
He added: “As soon as I come into the team, I think I’ll score straight away.
“Hopefully I get the chance soon enough.”