BIG JOURNEYS NO PROBLEM TO LITTLE
RICKY LITTLE has spent the last eight years making the 250-mile round trek to Arbroath for HOME games at Gayfield.
But after waking up at 6.45am for Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Ayr United, the Kilwinningbased defender is on the road to Championship success.
Little netted for the second week running as Arbroath leapfrogged Ayr into seventh with just two games to go in the race to avoid the relegation play-offs.
Arbroath are now in the survival driving seat and Little is content to keep on clocking up the motorway miles to help the Angus side to a third season in the Championship.
Little, who recently penned a new two-year deal that will net him a Red Lichties testimonial in 2023, said: “I’ve loved it since I came here in 2013.
“I’ll be perfectly honest, I wasn’t planning on staying for the long term when I came, given the travelling. I was just looking forward to playing in a higher league. But the club have been
great and since the gaffer has come in we have competed and that’s all I’ve wanted.
“The Championship is tough but I want to test myself in this league. I’d rather play at the highest level I possibly can.
“I’ve signed a deal until 2023. That will make it 10 years at Arbroath. I’ll be 33 by then but I feel good right now.
“I guess that could take me into a testimonial year but I’ll see what happens. It’s Bobby Linn’s testimonial next year and if any player in the lower leagues deserves one then it’s him.
“The journeys from Kilwinning have been tough. Normally when I get to Cumbernauld there are Glasgow boys I can lift share with but because of Covid it has just been me and my podcasts.
“I got up at 6.45 on Saturday, had a bit of breakfast and was out of the house by 7.45.
“I don’t mind it one bit. I’m a determined player who wants to win and I’ll give all I can to try make that happen. I’m not alone.
It’s like that throughout the club. The team has a great work ethic.”
Little bundled a Kris Doolan cross over the line from close range to make it 1-0 on 11 minutes.
Dale Hilson set up Ben Williamson to dink No.2 and Jack Hamilton met a Nicky Low corner for a quickfire third.
Hilson’s stunning 20-yarder completed the rout and Ayr boss David Hopkin said: “The players need to realise that we are now in a battle with two other sides to avoid the play-offs.”