Diamond Geezer!

Clyde debutant Graeme Jones spoke with the website directly after Clyde’s win against Airdrie United. “It’s been three weeks since I had a game and I’m not match fit so it was nice to get back playing. My last first team game was back in August and I’ve only had a few reserve matches since”.

Graeme (pictured left) continued: “I was out for two months with calf problems but I’ve been fit now since the beginning of November. I’ve had a two-month period of training but nothing really replaces playing first team matches”.

Jones has enjoyed his debuts throughout his career, a fact he was pleased to highlight. “I’ve scored in five out of my seven debuts which I’m quite pleased with. You can’t ask for any more as a striker. There’s a lot more to a forward’s play than scoring goals but sometimes that’s all people look at. I don’t get too engrossed with goals being the be all and end all but you always want to get off to a good start”.

Graeme was realistic about the match. “I had a chance in the first half with a ball that I headed off the defender but we didn’t get the corner. Apart from that I didn’t really have another chance. We struggled to get up the pitch at times”.

“I’m thirty-five in March,” the experienced forward added, “and the last thing I want to do is sit in the stands for possibly the last season that I play so I was missing playing. I enjoyed the game and it was great to get back out in front of a public”.

“The Bury manager wouldn’t let me go in August when Clyde approached them, which happened to be the day after I scored on my debut. I struggled after that and he would probably have loved to get me out of the door sooner but we’ve obviously had to wait for the window again. I think a lot of it was down to Stuart Balmer who I played with at Wigan and Boston so he knows what I’m about”.

“I’ve got a lot more to offer than I showed today. I don’t want to start promising anything but my first priority is getting match fit. Harty has definitely got something and he comes alive in the areas that matter most. He’s a little sniffer in the final third and I’d like to think that in our next matches I’ll be able to give him a lot more than I did today.

“I haven’t trained with the squad yet. I signed today, met the lads and went straight in, which isn’t easy. I’ve had seven debuts now but they don’t get any easier. It’s the one match that I like to have over and done with and out of the way and I’m more pleased that it’s finished!

The debut of Jones certainly excited the fans and they will be desperate to see if he can maintain his excellent start in the weeks ahead.