Friday 4th August 2017
WHATEVER happens to him at Dumbarton, Chris McLaughlin is already a winner.
And that success was right against the odds.
Even with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg at home, many people expected Forfar, to whom he ended last season on loan, to lose the League One play-off final on aggregate to Peterhead.
Cue a stunning afternoon at Balmoor Stadium which saw the Loons run out 5-1 winners, with Chris at left back the entire game.
It’s that sort of experience which the youngster will draw on as he begins another chapter in his career at the YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium.
He told www.dumbartonfootballclub.com: “That was brilliant – one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in football.
“Two weeks before the final, Forfar could have won the league, but lost to Annan Athletic and the title went to Arbroath.
“They were written off against Peterhead, who were already in League One and many people thought would stay there.
“They thought Forfar would sit back and defend – and they ended up winning 5-1! The party afterwards wasn’t bad either.
“All in all, it was a great experience and I hope I can help Dumbarton get results like that.”
Chris – a local boy to Dumbarton, hailing from Clydebank – undertook a successful trial in pre-season, resulting in him being signed after being released by Ross County.
And his goals are clear, for both himself and his new club.
He added: “I’d like to get as much game time as possible. I’ll be playing against good teams at places like Tannadice and Cappielow.
“At the end of the season I’d like to try and get back into full-time football, but if that doesn’t happen then who knows?
“I don’t think you should ever give up hope of going full-time.
“People I’ve spoken to say that I should just put the hard work in, and if I do that, I will get the results.
“So for now, it’s about working hard, and trying to fulfil my goals as well as the team’s.”
Andy Galloway