McFadden wanted change of pace after exit from the West
ALAN McFadden admits to enjoying a fresh start in the East of Scotland Conference League B as captain of Dunipace.
Associates of the veteran front man had thought Faddy had hung up the boots when he disappeared off the radar at Kilsyth Rangers after last season but it turns out he’s now playing with the only club from West Region parts to rip up their Junior roots in order to join the bottom tiers of the Senior game.
But it becomes difficult to turn your back on over 100 years of history in the game when you are facing the likes of Sauchie, Bonnyrigg Rose and Bo’ness United in bread and butter league games and more so for Faddy given he shares a dressing room with ex-Pollok midfielder Barry Tulloch and former Arthurlie and Ashfield striker Stevie Dymock.
He insisted: “There are reminders of the Juniors everywhere you look and I don’t expect that to change for a long time even though an entirely new stadium has been built at Westfield.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Kilsyth and the new management team of Jim Thomson and Kevin McGoldrick were keen to keep me on board when they took over but I was offered this opportunity at Dunipace by Gary and Graeme McMillan who are both former players and I felt it was too good to turn down .
“To play against different clubs and at different grounds presents whole new set of challenges after 17 years through in the West Region and it’s put a spring in my step and probably more so because Dunipace have started away well with seven wins in our nine games to date .
“That said the standard is not the best and the strongest sides are undoubtedly the former Junior clubs with Dundonald Bluebell currently sitting top of the table while our two defeats have come against Musselburgh Athletic and Dalkeith Thistle .
“This coming Saturday brings another massive test away to Bo’ness and once again I’ll be reminded of the Juniors by meeting up with yet another familiar face as their assistant manager Keith Hogg signed me for Kilsyth at the start of last season.
“He resigned shortly afterwards and I thought my playing days would end at Duncansfield but I ‘ve ben given a new lease of life in joining Dunipace and I want to make the most of it.”