Paul pushing for place

Willis:- "The more experienced players have really helped me in training I am really enjoying it and of course really pleased to find the net ag

Seventeen year old Paul Willis scored his first goal for the first team on Tuesday night.  He talked about the thrill of opening his account and his ambitions at Dunfermline.

"I spent two seasons in the under 19s and have been at Dunfermline since under 15 level. My goal is to get more time on the park so I will just have to keep working hard as I am keen to start for the first team and I am pretty confident that I can. If I can catch the Manager's eye I might get a wee opportunity and when the opportunity comes I have got to take it."

Paul Wilis v Dundee 03/01/09

Opportunities for a right sided winger like Paul might not be that easy to come by since Jim McIntyre signed three wide players in the close season. Willie Gibson, Steven MacDougall and Willie Gibson have all arrived and Simon Wiles is also working his return to full fitness. Competition is something that Paul is well aware of:-

"It is going to be hard breaking into the team, I can only try and play as well as possible."

Paul made his first team debut when he came on as a late substitute in the Scottish First Division match against Clyde at Broadwood on 23rd February 2008. At that time Paul was just 16 years 186 days - not quite young enough to beat Alex Edwards 16 years 5 days debut on 19th February 1962 v Hibs. His home debut followed the next week against Livingston.

Paul hails from Edinburgh. He attended Davidsons Mains Primary School and the Royal High School playing for Hearts from the age of 7 and then for half a season at Livingston at the age of 12. Paul was at Hutcheson Vale when he was brought to Dunfermline Under 15s by Jim McArthur.

Paul Wilis extreme right

Paul had a season at U17 before being promoted to the U19 squad for the beginning of the 2007-08 season.  The right sided midfield player stood out in the U19s and not surprisingly has attracted the eye of Jim McIntyre who has given him a chance in the first team.

The Manager clearly sees something in the young talent as Paul added "As long as he has been in charge, I have been involved."

Paul Willis in Challenge Cup v Queen of the South 2008-09

Paul started against QOS in the Challenge Cup last season and has been sub in eight games.  He is not 18 for a month yet but being the youngest in the squad doesn't seem to faze him.  He singled out Stephen Glass and Alex Burke as particular supportive in both training and on match days:-

"The more experienced players have really helped me in training I am really enjoying it and of course really pleased to find the net against East Fife."

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