The grass is greener on two fronts for Connall Ewan following his permanent move to Elgin City.
The 20-year-old defender is relishing the chance to establish himself at Borough Briggs following his release by Ross County and signing a two year deal with the Black and Whites.
And he has also landed a new job away from football – as a greenkeeper at the renowned Castle Stuart Golf Club near Inverness.
The former Ross County Academy graduate is enjoying life on the green grass of Borough Briggs and the manicured greens of the Moray Firth links course.
“It’s difficult coming out of full-time football. It gives you a lot of respect for the part-time players, the workload they’ve got throughout the week.
“The manager, the players themselves, they’ve all got jobs on the side, as well as their big efforts during the week with their training and a game on the weekend. So, yeah, it’s been a challenge, but it’s been good.”
Connall enjoyed a successful loan spell at Borough Briggs when Ross Draper brought him to the club.
After his return to Dingwall, he was subsequently loaned out to Inverness Caley Thistle but didn’t get much game time there.
After his time in the youth system, two years as an apprentice and then one year as a full-time professional, Connall knew he had to re-assess his footballing options.
Integrating into the Elgin squad has been relatively easy as many of the players are still there from his loan period.
“There is a lot of quality and depth, which is needed, and competition for places, which is always good.
“There’s the right mix of boys, experience, and young ones, so it’s good.”
Connall admitted being a full-time professional was enjoyable.
“It didn’t feel like work, so you were just kind of living everyone’s dream. So, it was really good just learning, being in that environment of professional football and learning off the senior players.”
Connall enjoys working under the gaffer and Stefan.
“They came in and steadied the ship at that time, that started the transition of the club going forward.
“I know what they are demanding, encouraging, and what’s needed to lead the team. There’s lots of areas in my game I need to improve, but that will come with playing with good players, and hopefully I just play football and enjoy it.
“Predominantly I’ve been playing centre-back role wherever I’ve been, but anywhere across the back line I feel I could do a job.”
Connall knows he has joined a “really good group of lads” at Elgin.
“There’s a good team morale, so it’s a good foundation which helps on the pitch.”
And it was an easy decision to sign a two year contract offered by City.
“I kind of knew what the club was about and what it wanted to achieve going forward.”
