Midfielder Michael Anderson will finally get to play in the SPFL after joining Stenhousemuir – but admits he is annoyed he never managed to achieve it with his hometown team.
The former East Kilbride FC youngster, from Stewartfield, was part of the side that missed out on promotion to League Two after a penalty shootout defeat to Cowdenbeath in the 2017 pyramid play-off final and a semi-final play-off loss to Cove Rangers two years later.
A move to Lowland League rivals BSC Glasgow followed and Anderson has now joined boss Stephen Swift in making the leap from BSC to Stenny after the new Warriors manager made Anderson one of his first signings at Ochilview.
The 21-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at K-Park, is relishing the opportunity to finally show what he is capable of in the SPFL.
He said: “Playing in the SPFL has been the target. It annoyed me that I didn’t manage it with East Kilbride and BSC, but it’s great I’m finally there.
“Stephen getting the job was the biggest factor in the move and he wanted to take me along with him.
“He knows what I bring and .he believes that can help him at Stenny.
“It’s a different challenge for me and hopefully we’ll be going for League Two [title] next season.
“I’m looking forward to the step up. Coming through the East Kilbride system was a good achievement, playing in the first team and gaining a lot of experience there alongside a lot of good players. I moved to BSC at the right time and got more games under my belt, so now it has paid off.”
Anderson was handed his senior debut at East Kilbride by Martin Lauchlan at the age of 17, having
won a treble with the club’s under-20 side.
He admits that he has reaped major benefits from his spell at Kilby under former gaffer Billy Stark, the ex-Celtic defender and Scotland Under-21 coach, and a whole host of experienced players who have played alongside him.
He added: “At East Kilbride I had players like Craig Malcolm, Graeme Holmes, Barry Russell, Sean Winter and David Proctor who all had good experienced pros and all willing to help me develop with small hints.
“Guys like Ross McMillan at BSC were a great help to me as well, playing alongside him.
“I made my debut under Martin Lauchlan towards the end the season at EK, but it wasn’t really until the season after under Billy Stark that I started playing more games and he really gave me my break in the team.
“Billy brought a lot of coaching experience to the team, so he was able to give me a lot of good advice, help develop me as a player and spoke to me quite often to help me along the way.
“He wanted me to keep going the way I was going and I’ve taken his advice on board and developed.
“New managers come on board and you get different points of view on things as well, but I can’t say one specific manager has helped me more than another.
“I played under Martin Lauchlan, Billy Stark, Brian Kerr and Stuart Malcolm at East Kilbride before BSC.”
This season Anderson’s outings have been limited with the Lowland League season cut short for a second successive year due to the pandemic.
But he is looking forward to returning to the field in July – and in front of fans.
The former Calderglen High School pupil added: “It’s been a difficult season.
“For all players it’s been a big miss not having fans in the stadiums this season, but hopefully by the start of next season they will be back.”
Anderson will join up with his new Warriors next month for their pre-season campaign, with League Two business kicking off on Saturday, July 31.
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