Friday 19th July 2013
THE dedication and professionalism of Dumbarton’s part-time squad has been illustrated in a recent Sky Sports interview with midfielder Garry Fleming and manager Ian Murray.
The focus is on the hard work required by players who, while turning out regularly for a part-time club, have to hold down demanding and sometimes full-time jobs as well.
They include Garry Fleming, who works as a car valeter. On training nights during the week he starts work at 8am and finishes at 5pm, before heading off for two hours football graft at 7pm.
On match days, too, Sons boss Ian Murray and his staff frequently have to hold together the football and work life balance with members of their squad.
The gaffer comments: “It’s a testament to Garry, but also to other players who have to do that, too.”
Despite being up against a majority of full-time teams in SFL Division One in 2012/13, Dumbarton finished seventh, reversing a very difficult start over the course of the campaign.
All the hard work right now – on the training ground, in the programme of friendlies and behind the scenes – is aimed at giving Sons another season to remember.