Monday 11th June 2018
WHEN Ross Forbes first signed for Dumbarton, things were somewhat different.
He was still a teenager, largely unknown, and simply looking for games in a team challenging for promotion out of Scotland’s bottom division.
It just shows what a difference nine years make.
The club is just back in League One after six seasons in the Championship. Ross played in what is still the club’s last game in the bottom tier, at Annan in May 2009.
The player is a Scotland under-21 international, a regular in the top flight and later the Championship, and of course a title winner with Sons nine years ago.
He’s also a League One champion, with Morton in 2015.
And now he hopes the two can mix. He hopes that he can win his third promotion, with the team he won his first with, in the division where he won his second.
Speaking to www.dumbartonfootballclub.com, Ross said: “I’m delighted. It feels good to be back.
“I know the club from being there before, and what a great club it is. I’m really looking forward to playing for Dumbarton again.
“You are always looking for success in football and always striving to be the best you can be. At the end of the season, success for us will be promotion.
“There was maybe interest from another club but as soon as I spoke to Dumbarton that was my mind made up.
“I also work for C&G Systems, who sponsor the stadium. I’ve worked for them before, a few years ago, at weekends, so I had the opportunity to go back to work for them as well. It’s really worked out well.
“I’m looking forward to getting back into training and games, as soon the friendlies and Betfred Cup ties will be coming thick and fast for us.”
Time may have moved on since that day at Annan – indeed, Ross is one of only four Sons players from that game still playing in what is now the SPFL.
However, like many people who were at Galabank that day, and there throughout the 2008/09 season, he’s never forgotten it.
He added: “That was a great time. I came to Dumbarton on loan to gain experience and ended up winning the league with them. It’s a fond memory for me and hopefully there are more to come.
“It definitely helped me to come to the club, with my development. When I went back to Motherwell that was when I got my chance in the first team, so it was definitely a big positive for me.
“We’ve signed some good players already and I’m quite friendly with a few of them. Hopefully we can add a few more to what we’ve got and assemble a strong squad.”
Andy Galloway