The subs stories
Monday, 19th Aug 2019The Parkhead experiences are benchmark for Pars substitutes
On Saturday Josh Coley, Gabby McGill and Matty Todd came off the bench as subs for Dunfermline Athletic against Celtic in the Betfred Cup. On Monday afternoon they found themselves helping the reserve team to a 4-1 win over Queen of the South at Keirs Park, the home of Hill of Beath Hawthorns.
From performing in front of around 30000, they were down to playing in front of around 100 but having savoured the taste of the bigger stage they they all now have their sights set on more top level football.
Josh Coley arrived in July on loan from Norwich City but even he had not played in such a big match before, he gave an insight into his feelings to the website:-
“It was an unbelievable experience, gutting for the boys to take the loss but it was a really good game to play in even for young boys like us coming off the bench.
”To experience having to deal with the pressure, shouting from the fans but the result didn`t go our way. We held them for 114 minutes. Everyone gave their all, no one could have done much more.
”We didn`t have a lot of the ball but we matched them mentally, defensively and physically. As much as we lost, everyone is buzzing with what happened, it kind of feels like a win.
In England Josh’s biggest audience had been in an under 23 match playing for Norwich City against Manchester United. In Scotland that has grown to over 5000 in Dunfermline’s first league match against Dundee and now to the estimated 30,000 who filled Celtic Park. The 20 year old continued:-
”It is everybody’s dream to play in front of tens of thousands of people. When you finally get the chance and to play against the best team in Scotland, I really enjoyed it.
”We showed what we can do and everyone is looking forward to the Dundee United game now.”
Former Dunfermline High School pupil Matty Todd is a product of the club’s youth system and Fife Elite. The eighteen year old had been hopeful of being included in the squad, he explained:-
”We don`t find out who is on the bench until an hour before kick off. The gaffer read out the team on Friday afternoon when we were doing our work at the training ground. You are left wondering if you are going to be involved.
”The whole squad that went through to Parkhead on Saturday knew what we wanted to do as a team and on Saturday they were brilliant.”
Gabby McGill signed for Dunfermline from Middlebrough on 30th May and he felt that the Celtic Park experience was brilliant. Like the others he knew the starting eleven on Friday but was still wondering if he would be involved by being on the bench.
”When the team was read out in the changing room before the game it was a bit surreal. You walk out and see the pitch and then you realise how brilliant everything is, the facilities and how big a club Celtic is.”
Gabby had played in large stadiums in England - St James Park, Newcastle, the Riverside, Middlesbrough and Stadium of Light, Sunderland - but with no real crowd and atmosphere.
”It was a whole different experience for me and definitely a great one.”
Gabby and Matty were on the bench when Tom Beadling scored the 77th minute equaliser, Gabby described
”There was that moment of silence as Chucky (Andy Ryan) did brilliantly going down the left and then cut it back. Then the anticipation but credit to Tom, he just struck it so well into the bottom corner. You hear the roar, our 1200 fans definitely made themselves heard. What a moment!”
In 85th minute Gabby went on for Kevin Nisbet but Matty had to hang on longer before he got on the park. His opportunity came in in extra time in 112 minutes when Ryan Dow came off. Matty added:-
”I was concerned that I might not get on but you know when you go out to warm up that you could get called back at any time. I was buzzing when they called me back and I tried to do my bit for the last ten minutes when I got on.”
As the second half of extra time went on the prospect of a penalty shoot out and both these teenagers were prepared to put their names forward.
Gabby admitted that there would have been both nerves and excitement but he was clear:-
”I think in that kind of situation you cannot not put your name forward. I would have regretted it for all my whole career. I feel confident taking a penalty anyway, I wouldn`t like to think that the pressure would have affected me.
”I took penalties for the last couple of seasons at Middlesbrough but it`s not like Parkhead. It might have been interesting to see how I would have felt there. You have to keep a cool head and get a good strike on it.”
Matty couldn`t recall his penalty record but quickly added:- ”I would take one anytime but it is not up to me.”
The scenes at the end of the game after the final whistle proved to be a moving experience. Gabby admitted to getting goose bumps when the squad approached their fans to acknowledge them.
”You could really see what it meant but the applause that we got showed that they really understood the effort that we put in. It was a special moment for me.
”My mum and dad were there and they were just so happy for me. It is one of those things where you talk about where you started. I know I am only eighteen, nowhere near finished yet but I know how far I have come.
”I remember playing for Pickering Town at Flamingoland and my dad driving me there. Now he is driving to Parkhead to go and watch me playing.”
Matthew’s parents made the trip too and Matthew compared his father taxi-ing him to Pitreavie Playing Fields every Saturday morning. He added:-
”To be fair they have ferried me all over the country, you can`t ask for much more. It was a great feeling for everyone involved on Saturday just unlucky with the result.”
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