Mark Ridgers reveals he turned down full-time offers to join Buckie Thistle’s title defence
Inverness Caledonian Thistle record-holder Mark Ridgers has joined Ross County behind the scenes in a commercial, business development role.
The 33-year-old left the Caley Jags at the end of last season having kept the most clean sheets of any goalkeeper in the club’s history, and has since moved into part-time football by signing for reigning Highland League champions Buckie Thistle.
He has revealed he turned down several offers in full-time football to join the Jags, opting instead to take up a full-time job with the Staggies while continuing to play in the lower leagues.
However, he opted to take up a job at Ross County in a commercial, business development role, and move into part-time football with Buckie.
He said: “At 23 or 24 I was offered the chance to go to America and, it sounds bad, but I said to my partner (now wife) that I was going regardless of what she was going to say because I was young and wanted to try.
“Now I'm going on 34 and have a kid. I discussed it with my wife. I was offered teams in the Championship and a team in Northern Ireland, which really interested me, but I could have found myself in this position in two years time and I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity at Ross County.
“It gives my wife the opportunity to focus on going back to work after my son has been born, without uprooting the family and moving south.
“The bigger picture is that my family is stable. I think I have made the right choice and I can't wait for the league to start.”
After deciding to move into part-time football, choosing Buckie Thistle was easy - according to Ridgers. He has been impressed by what he has heard from manager Lewis Mackinnon.
“I wasn’t getting offers that were taking my fancy,” he said. “Lewis messaged asking what my situation was and explained he would love to have me.
“It helps that Lewis was so keen, considerate and patient. He understood that I had full-time offers that I had to consider.
“But I knew from the start if I was going part-time, it would be with Buckie. The club has been successful, winning the league, and were unfortunate not to get a play-off.
“Overall, looking at my next step, the club are well-run with good people behind the scenes. With the whole vibe of the club, I knew it would be a good fit.”
Ridgers - who grew up following Clachnacuddin - is well-versed with Highland League football. He is hoping to be part of a successful Buckie Thistle title defence, but is well aware that other clubs have strengthened.
“I follow Highland League football and have done for many years,” he said. “I grew up a Clach fan and travelled to all the grounds, so I know the league and many in the players in league.
“For me it’s the excitement of something new. I will give my all, like I always do, when the league starts and go out and start to defend the title. That excites me.
“Going into the league expected to win every game is one of the things that excites me. I know teams at the top have strengthened and it will be competitive, and that’s what you want. Hopefully it ends with a title and maybe some cups as well.”
Something that will be different for Ridgers is part-time football and finding a work-football balance - something he has never had to do.
“I was very, very lucky that I left school at 15 and have been a professional since,” he said. “I made my debut a day before my 16th birthday.
“So it's all going to be new to me. It will take me a bit to get used to working and playing and the whole experience of going from work to football.
“For me, though, the pressure comes off a bit so can go and enjoy the football side of it. But the competitor in me wants to do well and hates losing goals and losing games.
“Hopefully I can become a bit of a leader, raise the standards around the place and will look to give advice to the other players. I’m sure they will be happy to listen as I have learned a lot from big names.”
Ridgers made his Jags debut in a 5-1 defeat against Falkirk, and is back in action tonight for the visit of Premiership side Dundee United.
He admitted that being the underdog in these sort of cup ties was something very new - but having plenty to do is good for him at this stage of the season.
“I haven’t had a proper pre-season,” he explained. “I know I will be busy but that helps me get sharper and quicker.
“The Falkirk game was the busiest I have been for a long time, but I would rather have this at the moment to get my sharpness back and be ready for the league.”
