The Interview
WILLIE MARTIN
What prompted you to choose Arbroath?
I could have stayed on at Stranraer; I was offered the same deal as last year. However, Neil Watt was the manager who signed me and he decided to resign at the end of the season so I felt it was time for a change. They have lost the bulk of their squad as a lot of the boys felt they would go when Neil left. I got a call from John and liked what I heard about Arbroath.
What do you think the squad is capable of achieving this season?
If
we play to our potential, we definitely have a chance to win the league; we’ve
shown that in pre-season, and the
You have been working really hard, so it must have been pleasing to score your first goal last Saturday?
Yes, it was a massive weight off my shoulders, but it means nothing due to the result. We all feel the same in the dressing room, who scores the goals, is not an issue, as long as they are scored. We all want to win the league and we know it is down to us as a team to do it.
Are you aware of the local rivalry between Montrose and Arbroath?
Yes! In the run up to the derby game I played in last year, the Montrose boys were talking about it, saying it was fierce and I didn’t believe them. Then I turned up on the Saturday and there was a mobile CCTV unit inside the ground! I thought someone was having a laugh, CCTV at a third division game! I have to say I have been really impressed with the Arbroath away support. At any other club I’ve been at the away support is usually really small, but in all the games so far this season there have been at least 150-200 Arbroath fans at away games and that is fantastic. Looking around at the Brechin game I’m sure the Arbroath fans out numbered Brechin.
You scored the winner for Montrose in that derby game, do you hope to do the same in reverse today?
Oh without a doubt! I am really up for the game on Saturday, as we all are. We are all very determined to get a result. I usually get butterflies in my stomach on the morning of a game, looking forward to it, but I’ve had butterflies since the beginning of the week, I just can’t wait to get out there. As I said it doesn’t matter who scores the goals, but it would be nice to get one!
What are the football ambitions you want to achieve?
The first priority is to win promotion; it would be a bonus if we were to do it by winning the league. Then I would love to make the step up to the second division with Arbroath as I think we are more than capable. I just want to do the best that I can and then take it as it comes.
Who is the opponent you dread playing against?
It was actually Robbie Raeside! I used to hate playing against Robbie. He is big and experienced and knows what to do to make life awkward for strikers. If I went up for a header against him he would just throw me out of the way. I used to have a nightmare every time I played against him. I think I’ve played against him seven times and was sent off twice, once for head butting him, but it was NOT intentional, and the other time I was so frustrated because I was having a nightmare, I got myself into bother. Every other time I played him, I was subbed. The other one is Mark Cowan, who used to be at Berwick and is now at Stenhousemuir. He’s a very similar player to Robbie, not the fastest, but big and very experienced.