’Well departure‘tough’ but Cove‘best option’
Adam Livingstone admits it was a wrench to leave Motherwell after 14 years, but says dropping down to Cove Rangers is a good move for him at this stage.
Left-back Livingstone has been a Motherwell fan all of his life – his grandfather Ian was chairman of the Fir Park club a number of years ago – and is grateful for everything they’ve done for him, but is looking forward to his adventure in League One.
Cove were awarded the League Two title and Livingstone, who has signed a two-year deal, says they’re a club on the up.
It also helps that he is linking up again with former Motherwell youth coach Gordon Young, who is assistant to Paul Hartley at the Balmoral Stadium.
Adam, 22, said: “I had been at Motherwell for about 14 years, so it was quite tough not having a club for the first time ever, having to go and try to source anything I could find, especially during this time when there aren’t as many jobs going in football.
“Squads are being cut massively compared to last season, so it was very hard trying to stay full-time and stay at the level I was, because all the teams at the top level had their squad sorted by the time I found out I was leaving Motherwell.
“I think it’s best for me, dropping down to League One, because I have a better chance of getting more gametime, and just trying to kick on, because ultimately what I need to be doing now is to be playing games.
“I’m glad I’ve gone there. I think it will be a really good move for me and it’s a club that wants to go places. It’s always good to go to a club that has proper ambition.”
Young played a major role in convincing Adam that his future was in Aberdeen.
Adam explained: “I knew Gordon from when I was very young. He was head of youth at Motherwell for years, and he took me right through that.
“When I was struggling to get a team I thought I have a lot of contacts from back in Motherwell who have moved on, so I spoke to Youngy and he posed the offer to me of coming to Cove.
“I was thinking it was really far away, that I’d look around and see if I could find anything full-time, but Cove was the best option for me, so I spoke to him again and he was very convincing.
“I knew a few of the boys there already as well, which really helped. They gave me an insight into what the club was like and what they were after, really.
“I’m quite happy to get the opportunity.”
Livingstone’s time at Fir Park meant he got to play alongside players he had idolised from the stands, and will be forever grateful for the opportunity.
“It was brilliant being at Motherwell, especially since I was a fan since I was born, basically,” he said.
“It was great to get to play there for so many years and I ended up playing with some of my heroes like James McFadden and Stevie Hammell, so you can’t really beat it.
“It was probably my dream come true before my career had really started, but it was brilliant being there.
“You learn so much, especially in a youth system like that, coming through it. You get coached the right way, and even when you come in to full-time you’re in a good environment. It’s a good, family club, so it was brilliant being involved in that for as long as I was.
“I was lucky, because I was there for so many years while so many boys left, and just to get to the stage that I did with Motherwell, I’m dead happy with that.
“I’m forever thankful to Motherwell for giving me such an opportunity and letting me make my debut with the club I support.”
I ended up playing with some of my heroes like James McFadden and Stevie Hammell, so you can’t really beat it