Saturday 25th July 2020
RYAN McGEEVER doesn’t just have a joint personal best goal haul as a souvenir of the truncated season 2019/20.
He has, for the first time in three years, got a clean bill of health to show for it as well.
The big centre half, who re-signed for Dumbarton on Tuesday, notched five goals during season 2019/20 – equal with the number he scored for Queen’s Park in the 2016/17 campaign.
But perhaps of more significance to the 26-year-old is that he missed just two games, and that he stayed fit from the start to the early finish.
His two seasons with Brechin City were riddled with injuries. His last game of season 2017/18 was on October 14, while in the next campaign, he was absent from December to mid-February.
It is therefore with some satisfaction that he reflects on an almost ever-present record this time around – and he’s working to ensure he can match or better it in season 2020/21.
Speaking to www.dumbartonfootballclub.com, Ryan said: I’m delighted to get it (the new deal) done. I wanted it done as quickly as possible as there’s been a lot of uncertainty over the past few months.
“It’s been tough without any football. To be honest, it was good to have a few weeks as a break, but then you need to keep yourself ticking over.
“I’ve been going out on runs, but there’s only so much you can do before you get bored, so I’ve just been doing different things to try and stay fit.
“Now that the lockdown measures are easing, it’s easier to get out and do things together as a group, rather than just training by yourself.
“I thought last season worked out pretty well. We could have done a bit better with the squad we had, but having a new squad together definitely played a part.
“It took us a while to gel and get going, but once we did that we performed really well and got some good results on the board.
“I just went on a run at one point where Joe McKee’s delivery was always landing on my head. Hopefully there will be more of that next season.
“But I was just happy to get through last season with no injuries. The last two seasons I was crocked for the best part of 14 months in total, so it was good for me to get a full season.”
Ryan’s decision to stay with Sons has been vindicated with the retention of fellow centre half Morgyn Neill and left back Rico Quitongo.
Three of the back four who served the club well as the season went on will be in situ again from October when the action resumes.
Ryan added: “We’ve grown a better understanding throughout the season and building on that, we are only going to get better having worked together before.
“It will be an easy transition into this season for us rather than not knowing each other.
“I think we can do well – it’s going to be really tough with the likes of Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Airdrieonians in the league. You also have the likes of Cove Rangers, who have just won a title and will have a good team bond.
“It’ll be the most competitive league that it’s been, but any part-time side would push for the play-offs.”
Andy Galloway