Tommy Seymour relishes challenge at Firhill

SOME of the excitement around Darren Clarke's Open success has filtered into Glasgow's squad this week courtesy of the newest member of the team, Tommy Seymour.

The newly-signed winger was born in Tennessee, USA, to an English father and Scots mother, but lived in Dubai and Northern Ireland before making the move across the Irish Sea from Ulster this summer. A sharp-footed winger, he comes highly recommended by Ulster's Scotland wing Simon Danielli and is Scottish-qualified.

After dotting across continents in his early life, Seymour admitted that he felt Irish. He said: "I was in the States until the age of nine, and in Dubai only for a year and a half, so my teen years were in Northern Ireland, and I think you sort of get a sense of belonging through your teenage experiences.

"I've certainly felt very Northern Irish over the past week with Darren's success in The Open. That has been fantastic for Northern Ireland and I've enjoyed it. I've met Rory McIlroy a few times; he's a good supporter and friend of the Ulster squad. I have followed golf for a long time, though I don't profess to be a golfer, but there was a lot of support among the boys for him at Sandwich, and for Darren and Graeme McDowell, and it was great for sport in such a small country as Northern Ireland to see Darren win."

Despite 'celebrating' his 23rd birthday in the testing environment of the Royal Navy Marines' commando base at Arbroath earlier this month, Seymour has settled in well in Scotland and is keen to make an impression on his new club supporters. "I remember the supporters well from my time playing here with Ulster.

"Ulster maybe have a few more at the moment, but the Warriors support is very loyal, and noisy, and I don't think any team enjoyed coming to Firhill.

"I'm looking forward to getting the chance to run out in front of them in a Glasgow jersey, and give them something to shout about.

"People look at Ulster and their rise in the past two seasons, but they have built and built to where they are and I sense the same desire here.

"That was my reason for coming really. I could have stayed at Ulster, but that was an easy option.

"I wasn't starting regularly and while it's a good squad I felt I'd be resting on my laurels if I stayed, whereas coming to Glasgow would be a challenge, and if I succeeded it would have greater benefits."