King leads way as Bonnyrigg make the most of Spartan army recruits

King switched to the Junior ranks last summer along with Ross Archibald after both players had successful stints at Spartans.

“I was there for five years and enjoyed it,” admitted King. “I’d won everything with them, some of the trophies more than once.

“But it was a great opportunity for me to come to Bonnyrigg. This is a higher standard playing against the likes of Bo’ness and Linlithgow.”

King and Archibald have both proved terrific signings for manager Max Christie in his first full season at the New Dundas Park club.

Both industrious and skilful, King has caught the eye in just about every game he has played, underlining his importance to the side just last weekend.

Rose were trailing 1-0 in a Fife & Lothians Cup clash at Glenrothes and needed a bit of magic inside the box from the midfielder midway through the second-half as he scored an equaliser. He then left a possee of Glenrothes players for dead with another neat piece of skill to turn provider for Stuart Roseburgh’s late winner.

“Last weekend’s game has been the story of our season so far,” said King. “We just don’t seem to start games well. In fact, it’s as though we need to go a goal behind before we start getting our act together.

“But, on most occasions, we’ve managed to get good results and that’s the important thing. There’s a great team spirit at the club.”

No-one has probably shown that better than Archibald. He’s played in just about every position this season and it’s no suprise to see him wearing the captain’s armband at the moment as he certainly leads by example.

Helped by the duo’s efforts, Rose are in the hunt for the Super League title and are still in three Cup competitions as well.

Tomorrow they travel to Glasgow to take on Ashfield in the last 16 of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup, having overcome Newtongrange, Clydebank and Maybole to reach that stage of the tournament.

Ashfield won the West Region Premier Division last season and are currently sitting sixth in the Super League.

King knows exactly what sort of test awaits Bonnyrigg, both on and off the park, after coming up against another of the Glasgow junior giants during his time at Spartans.

“My biggest game for Spartans was probably in the SFA Scottish Cup against Pollok through in Glasgow as there was a brilliant atmosphere,” he recalled.

“It was a tight ground and it was surrounded by fans. I think there was about 2000 at the game that day and it was superb. We drew 0-0 then beat them 1-0 at home. Hopefully I can now go through to Glasgow again and get another good result.

“I’d imagine it will be a similar type of ground and also a similar atmosphere. We just have to make sure that we come flying out of the blocks in this one.

“I’m really enjoying it here and I’m determined to get my hands on some silverware later in the season. We are fighting for Cups and still in the hunt for the League title – the results last Saturday went for us with both Bo’ness and Linlithgow dropping points.

“Everything is there for us in the second-half of the season – we’ve got plenty to play for over the coming weeks. The main thing would be to win the league – but I want to win everything!”

So, too, does Roseburgh, another of the Bonnyrigg new boys this season after being snapped up by Christie following a short spell at Linlithgow.

“We’re playing to win trophies and we are going about it the right way,” said the former Newtongrange Star winger.

“We are still in Cups and also in contention in the league. We just need to keep going about about our business the way we have so far this season.”

On tomorrow’s trip, he added: “It will be first time I’ve played against Ashfield but they’re doing well in their league.

“They’re a Glasgow team and that means it won’t be an easy one for us. We need to take our second-half performance against Glenrothes and build on that.”

Rookie boss Christie may have been a surprise choice to some when he was appointed to succeed Alan Miller in the final few weeks of last season.

But the former Hearts player, along with No 2 Steve Ellison, is proving a chip off the old block as he follows in the managerial footsteps of dad Terry, the former Meadowbank and Stenhousemuir boss.

“He’s played at a good level himself and has a tremendous enthusiam for the game,” said Roseburgh of the Bonnyrigg boss. “He’s calm at times but last week he gave us a right mouthful at half-time and that was to be expected.”