Thursday 4th August 2016
THERE may well have been a time when Dumbarton couldn’t attract the likes of Ryan Stevenson.
Probably during the days when they struggled to get out of Scotland’s basement division.
Now? They’re a club that many experienced players could join. Just ask the man himself.
The midfielder became one of Sons’ major close season signings when he joined from Ayr United.
He’s been a Scotland squad player, played in Scotland’s top flight and been involved in England’s second tier.
But after consultation with his old friend, Sons skipper Darren Barr, he knew a move to Sons was right for him.
And he feels that more experienced professionals could see Sons as an attractive prospect in years to come – if they continue to build on what they have achieved.
Ryan said: “You’ve always got to try and do better than last year. The manager is a driven man and he will want to do well for himself and the club.
“We just need to try and build on what Dumbarton achieved in the previous campaign, and with the players and manager we have, we can definitely do well.
“I’m confident we can get off to a good start. Last year is in the past and it is about what we do now.
“The longer Dumbarton stay in the Championship, the longer they do well and the more players notice them.
“Football is a small world. I spoke to Darren before coming to Dumbarton and he absolutely loves it here. He sang the club’s praises no end.
“If we build on what we have, we will keep getting better and more players will want to come and play for Dumbarton.”
With Ryan being a boyhood Ayr United fan, some may think he will have Christmas Eve circled in his calendar, with Sons due to visit Somerset Park that day.
But he added: “It will happen when it happens. I don’t pay much attention to when we’re playing any other team – I just get on with preparing for the next game.
“Every game is going to be hard this year. It’s a cracking league and to be going back to Ayr will be a challenge like any other.”
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Andy Galloway