Player says ‘Clachnacuddin feels like where I belong’
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PAUL Brindle is loving life at Clachnacuddin – and determined to help younger team-mates fulfil their potential.
The Conon Bridge-based attacker cut his teeth at Grant Street Park as a teenager, quickly forging a reputation in the Highland League.
Having memorably struck 10 goals during the Lilywhites’ 2014 Highland League Cup silverware success, he moved to Brora Rangers for a six-year spell that reaped seven trophies and goals aplenty.
After spending last season at Forres, who host Clach tomorrow, the 29-year-old chose to end his seven-year exile from Clach for what felt like a “homecoming” given his ties and affection for the club.
His double strike in the 4–1 beating of Rothes two weeks ago signalled a return to goalscoring form, with young James Anderson also hitting a brace.
Having left as a relative youngster, Brindle is happy to return as one of the older, wiser heads in the dressing room.
“To be honest, that was part of my reasoning for coming back,” Brindle said. “I’d always wanted to come back to Clach, but wanted to do it while I still had something to offer.
“Everything for me just felt right. I still have plenty to give, but I’ve now got over 10 years’ experience at a good level in the Highland League.
“From playing against Clach, I’ve seen the team’s potential. I’m just trying to help bring that out in some of the boys, just using my experience to talk them through certain things.
“It may help them, it may not but I think the experience that Jordan MacDonald has been able to add this year in Gary Warren and myself will hopefully help carry it forward.”
Brindle is lucky to have had not just one, but two clubs that have meant the world to him.
“I’m probably quite fortunate. It feels like I’ve returned to where it all began for me and I’ll always be thankful to Clach. I went there when I was 16 and, pretty soon after, they gave me my first team debut.
“It is pretty much all the same people that run the club and do all the work. I love being back and it does feel like returning home.
“Especially in the first few years, Brora was just like one big family and when I left I did say it felt like my club. At Forres, I couldn’t really get that feeling.
“Clach feels like where I should be now. and I just feel happy and content, but determined to help the club kick on.”
