Another Addition To The Playing Staff

Cowdenbeath’s attack-minded central midfielder Paul McHale has signed for Clyde. The twenty-three year old ex-Ranger, who joined the Blue Brazil from Sauchie Juniors exactly a year ago today, was presented to the press this morning when he modelled Clyde’s new Optical Express-sponsored strip for season 2005/06.

On 31 January 2003, and still to make a first-team appearance for the Ibrox club due in the main to competition from big-name stars like Barry Ferguson and Mikel Arteta, Paul moved along the Paisley Road to Love Street for a loan spell with St. Mirren until the end of the season.

First team football was the Paisley attraction and he hoped to do enough to extend his Rangers contract which was due to finish in the summer of 2003. It was not to be but by the beginning of July 2003 there was speculation that he was about to be given the chance to stake his claim for first team football in the SPL with Bobby Williamson’s Hibernian.

The summer spell in Leith came to nothing and Paul spent the next seaon with Lothians Division One outfit Sauchie Juniors. The step back to the Juniors did him no harm and he has just completed a very successful season with Cowden.

Paul was one of around forty players who took part in the recent week-long trials at Broadwood. Speaking to Scottish Television at the time he said: “I’ve played for Rangers and Cowdenbeath, and I’m here today because I want to play for Clyde in the First Division. I think I’m good enough to play in the First Division. This is the best opportunity you’re going to get without a club coming in for you, so if you think you’re good enough, you’ve got a great chance.”

Paul gets that chance, as from today.