Ready for the big build up
Monday, 29th Jul 2019Ex Brickie cementing relationships and happy to be building foundations for a successful season in Scotland
Josh Coley was delighted to score his first goal in senior football in Saturday’s Betfred Cup match. The Pars second in the seventh minute of the match was calmly finished by the player on a season long loan from Norwich City. A very happy 21 year old told the media:-
“I was just arriving in and saw my chance to take it. It just sat perfectly to get myself off the mark. Last year I only scored one goal and that came in April. In every game I was getting closer and closer. I was hitting the post or hitting the bar, so to score so early in the season is a burden taken off your shoulders.”
It maybe was his first but Josh executed the goal with much composure as he met Kevin Nisbet’s pass from the right byeline to stick a right footed effort into the right side of the visitor’s net. He explained what his coaching had taught him:-
“We did a lot of finishing at Norwich and they tell you to find corners rather than go for power. The ball came in with pace from Kevin and I just had to guide it in there. I just made sure that I stayed low and it always a goal.”
Having settled in well in accommodation with the two other new signings with Yorkshire roots - Matty Bowman and Gabby McGill - Josh had been able to strike up relationships on the park which he says are already paying off:-
“Me and Dowser (Ryan Dow), Aaron (Comrie) and Lewis Martin have a little four chemistry going on. We all communicate, I like switching sides and we work well together on each side.
“The boys are such a tight knit group and coming in they have made it easy to settle in. We work everyday on that partnership and wing play is how we are going to try and play this year I think.
“Lewis Martin on the left, talks me through the game and helps me out. I am still quite young and still learning the game myself. He just makes it all a lot easier for me.”
Looking ahead with great optimism all this seems a distance away from where Josh was only two years ago. Before moving to Hitchen Town, going out on loan to Baldock Town and then being signed by Norwich City Josh was working on a building site as a bricklayer.
His move to Scotland came on the advice of John McCracken, one of Josh’s best friends at Norwich. While at Carrow Road, Josh struck up a friendship with the Scotland Under 19 keeper who was signed three years ago after coming through the ranks at Hamilton Accies.
“Last January when I found out that I was going out on loan somewhere, there were numerous options from Holland, Sweden and everywhere. John told me to get in touch with my agent because the Scottish Championship would be good, just to go out and express my football.
“Under 23s football is good to learn, it helped me come into the professional game last year but now it is time to step up and play men’s football here.
”When I was placed on the football market, the club was the most appealing club for me based on them wanting to play young players and play exciting football.
“Obviously it is a long long way away from home but I am really enjoying it at the minute. The boys and the gaffer have made me feel so comfortable making the transition from England to Scotland.”
With Josh’s match against St Mirren shown live on BT Sport and Friday night’s Championship opener against Dundee live on BBC it has been easy for his followers in the south to track his progress but Josh is hoping that his mother will be able to travel up from York for the match on Friday. With his father living further south he may have to watch on television.
Josh is positive, however, that whether live or on the screen, Dunfermline will be well worth following this season:-
“As far as we are aware we are one of the best team`s, we are going out there to play exciting football and express ourselves as individuals and as a squad. Whoever it is we are against we are just going out there to win the game and try and finish as high as possible.”
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