For this week’s RedMatchday Magazine we have been hard at work producing another bumper edition with all the usual features plus a number of exclusive interviews:

Mark Reynolds

“There is a lack of out and out defenders in the game though, I don't know why. I was reading an article the other day where someone was saying it was the curse of Messi and Ronaldo that all kids want to be a winger or a striker and be the match winner who gets all the publicity.

“Being a centre-half, you don’t really get the credit. People only talk about you when you are playing rubbish and making mistakes that lead to goals. To some extent it is the same for a goalkeeper, unless they have an outstanding game which Joe did the other week at Murrayfield, or they save a penalty. A central defender does not get remembered for heading the ball away. There’s no glamour in it!

“It is hard for young defenders to get a foot in the door too. When I was a youngster, once I was in the team, that was it, you were a first team player and playing week in week out. Once you are established that was you.

“Nowadays, with the need to win every game, managers will normally go for experience in that position. And even if you are winning comfortably in the game and the manager looks round at the bench to see what players he can throw on to get some game time, he is not normally going to put on a defender. When they do get on, it is hard to make an impression. Again, you are only going to be remembered for making a mistake. It is a hard position to break into.

“We have one of the best young defenders here in Scott McKenna. He has so much promise. He has the physical attributes needed as he is huge. He is quick and he is good on the ball. He was just a little unfortunate that he has had good players playing in front of him but he showed last Sunday what he can do. He is a great lad as well. He has a very good head on his shoulders. He is good about the place, very well liked by all the staff.

“Getting good advice is so important, especially for young players. My dad was probably the biggest source of that. He coached me right up to U17 level. He will still watch games and tell me if I was rubbish! He is very honest with me. He will watch all my games back on RedTV and will ask me what I was doing there or what was I thinking when I did this or that!

“I did not really have any pros who took me under their wing, but when I broke into the Motherwell side, I played next to Stephen Craigan for a number of years and we had a good partnership. Then when I came up here, I was fortunate enough to play alongside Russell.

Graeme Shinnie

“Scott has had to be patient, I think his last start was May 2016. He has had a few loan spells which have been a hit or a miss for him but good experience nonetheless. He has been in around the first team and learned from the likes of Kari, Mark and Andrew in training. When he come in on Sunday there was not so much pressure on him but there was pressure on the team. The way Moult and Bowman had played on the Thursday it was an important job to keep them quiet. There was no better game for him to come in and command his area and win his headers and tackles. He dealt with Moult who is up there as one of the best in the league. He dealt with him very well.

“Young players, no matter what club you are at, you have to be patient. There are going to be times when you are going to be sitting in the stand. I had it at Inverness when you have to sit and watch games and you are dying to get out on the pitch. It is all about learning. When the chance does come around, it can sometimes be completely unexpected like of Scott on Sunday or sometimes you might know for a week or so that you are playing, but either way you need to be prepared. You then need to take your chance and then try and keep your place in the team. It is good to see Scott McKenna, Scott Wright involved with the squad and Frank Ross as well, all the youth players can look at that and it gives them encouragement.”

Scott McKenna

“My loan spell at Ayr started off well and I played something like ten games in a row. I then signed an extension till the end of the season but was then in and out of the team, that was just the way it was working. I then got sent off against Hibs in the Scottish Cup which didn't help.

“It was a tough season with the results, but I learned a lot from the experience. I knew I was not playing well enough so I could not argue when I got dropped. There were boys playing better than me who deserved to be playing ahead of me. That is the way football is. You just need to get your head down and get on with it. It was a tough spell but a good education.

“The season before was even tougher because of my health problems. When I was out for the three months, there was a lot of uncertainty. You do think about things like not playing again and needing to go and get a real job. It was a tough spell but the club helped me through it and again I am stronger for the experience.

“Now, having got last Sunday under my belt, hopefully I can stay in the mix for more starts in the first team along with all the other players we have pressing for a chance”.

Plus: Derek McInnes, Graeme Park, Archie Knox, AFC Academy star Connor Barron, Ally Begg, Richard Gordon, Chris Crighton, the Autumn of 1985 is the featured period from the past, and lots lots more in the 84 page packed programme.

Competition

Pick up a lucky programme this weekend!

For this week’s competition, the star prize; we have some signed shirts from squads that cover star Mark Reynolds has been involved in. One lucky winner will receive all these shirts. As always there with be half a dozen runners up prizes; signed Mark Reynolds prints.

To win this week, all you have to do is simply buy a programme from one of our sellers at the ground or from the AFC Club Shop. Winning vouchers will be put in selected programmes. On the vouchers will be information on how to claim your prize. Good luck everyone!   

RedMatchday Issue 06 is available from sellers in and around the ground. Still available for only £3.00 – offering you our readers great value for money. There will be copies available to buy in the club shop plus you can buy all the AFC programmes online here: www.curtis-sport.com