Despite it being a step down from where he has played most of his career, Kevin Motion is enjoying his time at Vale of Leithen “just as much” as those that have gone before.

Having spent much of his career in the Scottish lower leagues with Stenhousemuir, Alloa and Forfar, Motion moved back to the Lowland league with first club Spartans in 2015 before ending up at Victoria Park via Newtongrange Star.

At the age of 33 he now has different priorities, as well as plenty of experience to pass on to the younger members of the squad. Chris Anderson knows the player well and managed to lure him to the club, and Motion is so far pleased with his decision.

He said: “I’ve been very fortunate to have had some great times over the years through football but I’m enjoying this season just as much as any other.

“Ando, Keith, Sean, Lamby and Rob are doing everything in their power to get this club on the up and make us successful. We have a really good squad with a mix of old, really old and young players that means we have a real chance of making it one of the best seasons the club has ever had.”

Some eyebrows may have been raised when Motion signed on at the side who finished third bottom in the Lowland League last season and who have one of the smallest budgets in the division, but his rationale was to join a team with potential.

He explained: “I’m good friends with a lot of the players in the squad as well as Ando so that was a big draw for me. Ando knows how I like to play football and he also knows I can’t and don’t run about that much and he gives me licence to do that, as long as I’m performing well at what I’m good at. Thankfully I’ve got young legs around me to do my running.

“Also, I bought into what Ando and the guys are trying to create here, I wanted to be a part of that and try to help in any way possible. I’ve got a lot of respect for the coaching staff, they are all very young in terms of management and coaching but I’ve no doubt they’ll be successful here and higher up in the future.

“It’s a great squad of boys who like a laugh, the banter is good, usually at the old boys’ expense but I’m really enjoying being part of it. I enjoy winning games though and this squad should be winning more than it is losing.”

As one of a few experienced heads alongside Ainslie Hunter, Robbie Manson, Keith McLeod and Danny O’Donnell; one their responsibilities is to help bring on those at the other end of the spectrum. Youngsters such as Blair Atkinson, Sean Stewart, Brad Raiker and Ross Lamb have shown promise and are able to draw on the know-how of their older team-mates.

Motion said of the youngsters: “I’m focused on the younger players we have in the squad, some of them have no idea how good they are and how far they can go.

“If I can help them get better in any way I’ll be happy with that. I wish I was as good as a few of them when I was in my early 20’s.”