HIGHLY rated youngster Quinn Mitchell insists that lifting the East of Scotland Cup with Gala Fairydean Rovers was the best moment of his career so far.
Ironically he was initially reluctant to sign the loan deal with the Gala from his parent club FC Edinburgh (formerly Edinburgh City) due to the travelling involved from his South Queensferry home.
But now he would recommend the club to other youngsters making their way in the game.
The 19-year-old left back has been in outstanding form for Gala this season and was more than happy to extend his stay which was due up in January.
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He said: “I made my debut for FC Edinburgh against Stirling Albion in April then came on as a substitute in a League Cup and I was expecting to be playing for the Under 20s. But the manager Alan Maybury sat down with me and said he didn’t think I was ready to play first team football in League One and he was right.
“And he didn’t want me to play Under 20s, so he suggested the loan to Galashiels. At first I wasn’t sure due to the travelling but I was made welcome from the minute I arrived from Gareth (Rodger) and the boys.
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“Jimmy (Martin Scott) told me about the type of football he wanted to play and said that I would fit in. I really like attacking and getting up and down the pitch. And at Gala no one hides and everyone wants the ball and I love the way we play.
“Training is really intense and Jimmy and Stevie (Craig) are brilliant coaches who have both played at the highest level in the game.
“Playing for Gala has certainly improved my game and I’d recommend coming here to any young players wanting to progress in football.”
On Sunday, with time running out, it was Quinn that supplied the cross for Ciaran Greene to equalise and set up the penalty shoot-out which will live long in the memory of everyone that was at Ferguson Park.
He continued: “When they scored in the first minute then the red card, and when they got their second goal it looked as though Linlithgow would go on to win. I was up against Mark Stowe who was quality, and probably the best player I’ve played against.
“But we dug deep and when Mr Reliable (Danny Galbraith) scored the penalty we knew we had a chance.
“Then with five minutes to go, I got the ball on the left but for some reason I cut back and crossed with my right foot. And the last person I expected to see was Ciaran. It was like a fairy tale, him being a local lad, but he deserved it because he’s been very good for us since he got into the team.
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“I was ninth in line to take a penalty and didn’t think it would reach me and when Ciaren (Chalmers) scored it was unbelievable. That was definitely the best moment of my career so far and it’s something I’ll never forget,
“I may never win another medal but we’ve all made some history by winning the first every trophy for the club.”
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