Dobbie: I turned down top clubs to get Queens up
Stephen Dobbie will line up for Queen of the South against St Johnstone in the Betfred League Cup on Saturday knowing he could have been facing Premiership opposition every weekend had he wanted. The 35-year-old, a former Saint and Hibs player, says he had offers from several clubs in the January window, all of whom were keen to give him another shot in the top flight. But having helped both Blackpool and Swansea win their way up to the English Premier, he preferred to use his experience to continue his quest to help give the Borders its first ever Premiership club. “I’ve had a few offers last Christmas but I just said no straight away,” said the Queens captain. “I live in England so it is easy for me to play for Queens and I’m happy there. “Why go somewhere where you might not be, especially at my age? “I’m playing for a club I love and scoring goals for them – between two spells he has hit more than 100 – is an honour. “Yes, there was more money, but at this stage of my career it’s not about money. “It’s about playing and enjoying the football and giving something back to this club. “I’ll not be playing for much longer so if I can help them get to the top division while I am still in action, that’s the dream. “Trying to get Queens up is the reason I came back. “They gave me the platform to get my move to England and I made so many memories here. “I always said I’d come back and the reason I did was to get them into the Premiership. “This year is our centenary so hopefully it’s a good omen for making a bit of history. “The last time we were in the top division was in the 1950s so hopefully we can give it a better go this time to celebrate the 100 years. “It will be tough, but a lot of boys don’t like coming down to play us in Dumfries and if we believe in ourselves it can happen.”