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Deveronvale assistant manager Michael Morrison happy with Banff club's recruits so far as Elgin City loan trio and former Dufftown pair come on board at Princess Royal Park


By Craig Christie

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A NEW goalkeeper, an attacking midfield prospect and three products of Elgin City’s youth academy will ply their trade at Deveronvale next season.

New Deveronvale goalkeeper Sean McIntosh in action during his last Highland League spell at Rothes.
New Deveronvale goalkeeper Sean McIntosh in action during his last Highland League spell at Rothes.

Vale assistant boss Michael Morrison’s past managerial stint at Dufftown and his connections with hometown club Elgin have helped land the Banff club some fresh faces for the forthcoming Highland League campaign.

In comes keeper Sean McIntosh, who has previous Highland League experience with Rothes, and 21-year-old Mikey Watson who was a youth player at Elgin before being loaned out to work with Morrison at Dufftown then making the move permanent.

Loan deals have also been struck between Vale and Elgin to bring in defender Jamie Tinnock (18), and 17-year-old pair Matt Jamieson and Charlie Hay.

Morrison spoke to Elgin City manager Gavin Price about forming a relationship between the clubs and the loan deals are seen as a benefit to all parties.

“They are at an age now where they need to be playing adult football in my opinion,” said Morrison, who pointed to his own playing career when he was a 16-year-old at Elgin City who was loaned out to local junior side New Elgin.

Michael Morrison
Michael Morrison

“It was one of the best things I ever done. I experienced adult football at a young age and it set me up really well.

“Playing against that type of people you learn very quickly on what you can get away with and what you can’t.

“It’s a completely different kettle of fish from playing youth football against people your own age.

“I haven’t seen these lads play but Gav spoke highly of them and he was in agreement with me in terms of getting them involved in adult football. He hopes they do well and come back to Elgin better than they left and give themselves and the club a chance to put them in the first team platform at Borough Briggs.”

Morrison admitted he was surprised that new recruits McIntosh and Watson were still in junior football at his old club Dufftown.

“I think both maybe had opportunities at various times over the last two or three years but for whatever reason they were still at Dufftown.

“I spoke to Dufftown about our intentions and they were very good about it. Initially both players were very keen from the word go so we quickly got that tied up and they are signed.

“I signed Sean for Dufftown from Rothes. Mikey came on loan to Dufftown from Elgin and then he signed permanently.

“He can play various roles in the middle of the park. He’s predominantly a central midfielder and I like to see him attacking wise but he is capable of playing a holding midfield role.

“He’s got a good range of passing, he’s comfortable on the ball and I think he can be a good asset for us. He’s got goals in him as well, I could be wrong but I think he may have been Dufftown’s top scorer in their last full season.”


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