Blairgowrie’s Ross Matthews has spoken of his pride after making his full debut in senior football.
With delighted family members watching from the stands, the 20 year-old goalkeeper started for Montrose in a narrow 2-1 League One defeat against Falkirk.
And, since last month’s memorable moment at the Falkirk Stadium, the former Blairgowrie High School pupil has also signed his first professional contract with the Angus side after being promoted from the club’s academy and suitably impressing Links Park manager Stewart Petrie.
Ross, an apprentice electrician currently learning his trade on a college course at Perth UHI, said: “To make my full professional debut was a special moment for me and the family.
“My mum, dad and my two brothers were there. It was a brilliant day.
“I’ve got my family to thank for a lot because they used to drive me all over the place so I could play football.
“Making my debut, signing the contract and being able to give something back to them is really special. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
“It’s the same with the club – being able to give something back to the manager, the coaches and the players for the trust they’ve shown in me means a lot.
“Montrose is a special club and it’s a really great environment to be part of.”
He continued: “The quality in senior football is of a very high standard compared to what I’ve been used to in the past but to be able to test yourself at that level was a great experience.
“It gives you that taste and it’s hopefully just the start for me. I’ve just got to keep working hard and pushing myself – during every training session and every Saturday when we’re playing matches.
“I’ve always wanted to set my standards high and I want to push for a first team place and be the number one.
“Signing the contract won’t really change things as far as what I’m doing is concerned.
“I still want to do everything I can to be the best I can be.
Ross added: “I’ve been training with the Montrose first team for about the last 18 months.
“Doing that has helped me massively and it’s a brilliant group of boys to be part of.
“They’ve helped me since the day I walked through the door.
“As a goalkeeper, I’m got time on my side and I’ve learned a lot from the more senior players already.
“It’s all about learning for me at this stage.”
Ross’s long-held love for playing the beautiful game began with matches as part of a Blairgowrie United squad mentored by his dad, John – albeit at the other end of the pitch.
He went on to reveal: “When I played for my dad’s team I was a striker and when I joined Dundee I got the opportunity to either play in goal or stay as an outfield player, and I picked to go in goals.
“You always want to score goals as a striker but, by chance, I was put in goals one day and I thought ‘this is for me’.
“I’m not sure what it was – whether it was stopping shots or keeping goals out – but it was something I really enjoyed at the time. I still do. You get a buzz from it. It’s got me to where I am just now so it’s worked in my favour.
“For any goalkeeper, if you make big saves you can keep your team in the game.
“Your role’s just as important as anyone else’s in the team, we’ve all got our own jobs to do.
“You pride yourself on keeping clean sheets, or saving shots – just like a striker would scoring a goal.”
