DANNY ROGERS
Danny Rogers has today signed a new contract with the club.
The goalkeeper, who celebrates his 22nd birthday tomorrow, has been out on loan the past two seasons. Last year he won a number of individual awards as he helped Dumbarton stay in the Championship. Again he has impressed greatly this season, helping Falkirk surge up the table and the Bairns currently sit second in the Championship. Danny, who is currently away on International duty with the Republic of Ireland U21s, is looking forward to an exciting end to the campaign before returning to Pittodrie in the summer to push from the number one jersey.
After signing his new deal he spoke to AFC Media:
“It is a two year deal. I am delighted with it. The manager rang me to say he was going to offer me a new deal and I am was very keen to sign it. When we spoke he said all the right things and really made me feel part of his plans of the future. Many goalkeepers at my age would only get offered a one year deal so to have the security of a two year contract was very pleasing. It shows that the manager has belief in me.
“The two loan periods have really helped me. Dumbarton last year was obviously different to this year. Last year was more about getting experience. I was pleased how I performed over the course of the season.
“This year at Falkirk it is a different pressure. You are constantly under pressure to win games and to perform well.
“I feel the loan spells have prepared me for coming back next season and pushing for the number one jersey.
“The Development League is good up until a certain age but then you don’t get as much out of it after that so you need to move on and play at a different level to advance your career. You need the pressure of playing in front of fans and playing for points. The loan spells therefore have been massive in my development. I have the right people behind me who have got me out on loan at good clubs.
“I will be honest and say I did not appreciate just how big a club Falkirk are till I arrived here. They have big ambitions and want to be back in the Premiership. It was the right club for me to go to at this stage of my career and I am delighted with the way it has worked out.
“We had a slow start to season and at that point our aim was just to make the play-offs. But as the season has gone on we have done really well and have won most weeks. It has been a very good season. We just need to keep it going over these last seven or eight weeks and see where we land up.
“I have loved my time at Falkirk. It is a great group of lads down there. From the first day I arrived they made me feel very welcome. Some people are saying that we are overachieving but I actually think we have a very good team.
“Lee Miller is back at Falkirk and doing well. He is a very good character to have about the place. He can still play a bit! He is a good professional and you can see why he has had a very good career.
“The last couple of months of the season are going to be very exciting. Hopefully we can push on. It would be nice if Falkirk were in the same league as Aberdeen next season.
Another young Don doing well on loan in the Championship is Lawrence Shankland. The Dons striker’s two goals at the weekend helped St Mirren to a 3-2 win over Livingston and under new manager Alex Rae Lawrence is showing the form that made him the top scorer in the Development League last season. Danny admits there was more than a bit of rivalry when the two friends met recently.
“None of my mates have ever scored against me. So going in to the recent game against St Mirren I was a bit nervous! I was thinking this could be the time as he was hitting a bit of form. Fortunately he did not score, although he did miss a chance against us so I was relived! But he is doing very well and I am sure the manager will be pleased to see his name pop up on the score sheet.
“I come back to Pittodrie every four to six weeks for training. I speak to Gordon Marshall on a regular basis so I still feel part of the club. I also see the boys every few weeks and keep in touch with all of them. I am just like a fan on a Saturday following the score on my phone or the radio.
“I feel I am now ready to come back and challenge for the number one spot. Hopefully I can come back in pre-season and produce the goods. But before then I have some big games ahead with Falkirk.
Meanwhile Danny is currently away with the Republic of Ireland U21 squad. The Irish face the Italians on Thursday and then travel to Slovenia on March 28. The experience of international football has further helped his development.
“We are doing on in our qualifying campaign but we will probably need to get six points out of these next two games if we are to qualify. That will be a tough task. I so far have played in all the qualifying matches so it has been very good experience for me playing at this level.”
“We are doing on in our qualifying campaign but we will probably need to get six points out of these next two games if we are to qualify. That will be a tough task. I so far have played in all the qualifying matches so it has been very good experience for me playing at this level.”
