AFTER OFFICIALLY SIGNING for Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone last week, David McMillan has spoken about how he thought he had missed the opportunity to become a professional footballer.
The 29-year-old Dubliner has spent the past four seasons at Dundalk and leaves Oriel Park with three SSE Airtricity League Premier Division titles, one FAI Cup and two League (EA Sports) Cups to his name.
โReally looking forward to getting going,โ he told RTร 2fmโs Game On of his new venture which will begin on 8 January.
โItโs a huge challenge for me and I canโt wait to get started.โ
McMillan had been linked with various different moves at other stages of his career and admitted that he thought he had missed the boat to play overseas.
It was an offer he couldnโt turned down, he explained.
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โIt was something that interested me straight away,โ he continued.
โIโve just turned 29, and I think at my age it was an opportunity I couldnโt turn down. For other players they might have experienced going over to England or Scotland when they were 18 or 19 or the likes, but for me thatโs never happened.
โAt 29, to have an opportunity to go and play in some really big stadiums against some really great teams is one I wanted to takeโ
McMillan spoke of how St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was over watched the 3-0 League Cup final win over Shamrock Rovers in September and things just went from there.
The architect, who will put his career on hold for the foreseeable future, added that the decision to depart Stephen Kennyโs outfit was far from an easy one.
โThe team is incredible,โ he said. โItโs one that is very difficult to leave.
โItโs not just about the success we have had, but the people there as well. I know if I stayed the team would continue to be successful. It was a difficult decision, but my age was a factor.โ
McMillan was a fan favourite at Oriel Park. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
And when asked if Wright has approached him with any specific role, McMillan concluded:
โIโm sure if you asked him, heโd hope I score a lot of goals and play brilliantly.
โBut look, I think he likes to play 4-4-2 and has a number of strikers already at the club. The first game on 20 January which is a Scottish Cup match, Iโm hopeful that I can get game time there. Really as a player, itโs up to you then.
โIf you get minutes on the pitch, youโve got to go and deliver, play well and try and score goals. Thatโll be my ambition and hopefully if I do that Iโll get plenty of opportunities.โ
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the yearโs best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Easonโs, or order it here today (โฌ10):
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'At my age it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down' - Leaving Dundalk for Scotland
AFTER OFFICIALLY SIGNING for Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone last week, David McMillan has spoken about how he thought he had missed the opportunity to become a professional footballer.
The 29-year-old Dubliner has spent the past four seasons at Dundalk and leaves Oriel Park with three SSE Airtricity League Premier Division titles, one FAI Cup and two League (EA Sports) Cups to his name.
A fan favouite striker, McMillan scored 23 goals in all competitions for the Lilywhites in 2017 and penned a two-and-a-half year deal with St Johnstone after his contract expired.
โReally looking forward to getting going,โ he told RTร 2fmโs Game On of his new venture which will begin on 8 January.
โItโs a huge challenge for me and I canโt wait to get started.โ
McMillan had been linked with various different moves at other stages of his career and admitted that he thought he had missed the boat to play overseas.
It was an offer he couldnโt turned down, he explained.
โIt was something that interested me straight away,โ he continued.
โIโve just turned 29, and I think at my age it was an opportunity I couldnโt turn down. For other players they might have experienced going over to England or Scotland when they were 18 or 19 or the likes, but for me thatโs never happened.
โAt 29, to have an opportunity to go and play in some really big stadiums against some really great teams is one I wanted to takeโ
McMillan spoke of how St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was over watched the 3-0 League Cup final win over Shamrock Rovers in September and things just went from there.
The architect, who will put his career on hold for the foreseeable future, added that the decision to depart Stephen Kennyโs outfit was far from an easy one.
โThe team is incredible,โ he said. โItโs one that is very difficult to leave.
โItโs not just about the success we have had, but the people there as well. I know if I stayed the team would continue to be successful. It was a difficult decision, but my age was a factor.โ
And when asked if Wright has approached him with any specific role, McMillan concluded:
โIโm sure if you asked him, heโd hope I score a lot of goals and play brilliantly.
โBut look, I think he likes to play 4-4-2 and has a number of strikers already at the club. The first game on 20 January which is a Scottish Cup match, Iโm hopeful that I can get game time there. Really as a player, itโs up to you then.
โIf you get minutes on the pitch, youโve got to go and deliver, play well and try and score goals. Thatโll be my ambition and hopefully if I do that Iโll get plenty of opportunities.โ
- You can listen to the full interview here.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the yearโs best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Easonโs, or order it here today (โฌ10):
Scottish Premiership side confirm the capture of prolific Dundalk striker
โBecoming a good player so quickly made me miss a lot of the normal lifeโ
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Across the water David McMillan LOI made the boat Making The Move new venture