McNeil Enjoying Move to Clyde

Speaking exclusively to the official website, summer signing Ewan McNeil revealed that he is fitting in well in his new surroundings and that he is happy to do his bit for his new team, in whatever position he is needed.

McNeil has only been a Clyde player for two months but already he has played right back, centre back and right midfield for The Bully Wee. On Tuesday night, he also netted his first goal for the club.

“The gaffer spoke to me about playing in different positions during the season,” the 22-year-old explained. “At the start of pre-season I was at right back then went into centre half and in the last couple of games I have been on the right of midfield – wherever the gaffer plays me I will give 100% and work for the team.

McNeil started his career at Rangers before moving south to join Norwich City as a teenager. Since returning to Scotland the defender has spent time with Airdrie and Brechin and, after an impressive season with League 2 rivals Berwick Rangers, he signed a two-year contract at Broadwood this summer.

Opening his goalscoring account in The Bully Wee’s Betfred Cup victory against Albion Rovers capped the perfect start to McNeil’s Clyde career, as he explained: “I’ve enjoyed everything since I came to the club and obviously getting on the scoresheet on Tuesday was great. Scoring goals is something I aim to do as part of my game but the most important thing on Tuesday was that the team got the win in the end.

“I have really enjoyed coming to the club. I was doing a lot of travelling to play for Berwick last year so I’m feeling a lot fresher now. The boys have been great and the staff have been brilliant with me as well, so everything is going really well. I’ve played every minute in pre-season and the Betfred Cup so far and I just hope that continues and I keep my place in the team.”

McNeil is one of 11 summer signings and he has been impressed with the squad that manager Barry Ferguson has assembled:-

“We’ve got plenty of experience here at Clyde – boys who have got three or four hundred games under their belt, which is really important. I feel like the gaffer has brought together a team of boys who did really well at Clyde or with other clubs last season and hopefully we can all do well together this year.

“We’re all in it together. We’ve got a real mix of ages, a good range of experienced guys and some younger ones who are still hoping to play at a higher level. We need to work as a squad and we need to be together because we know it won’t be an easy season. We need to make sure that we are all pulling together and going in the same direction and if we do that then I’m sure we’ll do well.

“In terms of training, organisation and the trip to Jersey, the gaffer is running things really professionally and that is all you can do to get the best out of the players. So far things could not have been run better, it has been brilliant.”

With no game this weekend, McNeil concluded by outlining the squad’s schedule for the coming week and ambitions for the season:-

“We trained yesterday, we’ve then got the cup game on Tuesday, training next Thursday and then the league starts on Saturday – that’s our bread and butter this season.

“If I’m playing at the back I want to defend well, if I’m in midfield I want to get about the pitch and add goals – wherever you’re playing you have your individual targets but as a squad we all want to do well in the league and that is the most important thing.”