TRAVELLING hundreds of miles each week has finally paid off for Dunbar’s Fraser McLaren after he was crowned a Scottish League Two champion.

McLaren came off the bench last weekend as Peterhead picked up three points with a 2-0 win over Clyde, while nearest rivals Annan Athletic were slipping up away to East Stirlingshire, guaranteeing the Blue Toon the title and promotion.

The forward spoke to Courier Sport and said: “That is my first title, so I am so happy to finally win something.

“I came close last year with Berwick Rangers in the play-offs but this year has been great.” The Wee Gers lost out to East Fife 12 months ago and McLaren revealed that disappointment had made him determined to ensure it was not a case of history repeating itself.

“It definitely does spur you on,” he said.

“When [manager] Jim McInally phoned me in the summer I did not have a club and was just keeping myself fit.

“He asked me if I was interested in joining and I could not wait to sign – I would have travelled up to Peterhead that night to sign.

“I fancied us to win the league and really wanted to sign and it has been the best club I’ve been involved at, including playing full-time.” The former Dunbar Primary and Dunbar Grammar pupil began his career as a teenager with Livingston but, as he was threatening to break into the first team, disaster struck, with the Almondvale club going into administration.

Instead, he would make his debut with Gretna in the Scottish League Cup before lining up at Ibrox against Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

Ultimately, finances would once again play a part in his decision to move on, with the Dumfries and Galloway side also struggling financially.

Next stop was Shielfield Park and a near five-year stay with Berwick.

However, last summer, the 25-year-old decided it was time for a new challenge.

He said: “We train in Forfar on a Wednesday night and I travel to Perth, where a bus coming from Glasgow meets us.

“We then go up to Forfar and I will usually train with Dunbar United on a Monday night.

“I’m close friends with Dunbar United manager Davie Lees and he is happy for me to train there.” McLaren, who works as a spray painter, is out of contract at Balmoor in the summer but is determined to stay on.

“I’ve not had any talks on contracts,” he said.

“Nobody really thinks about that until the end of the season.

“They don’t want to start talking and instead just concentrate on the football.

“Hopefully, I will get offered a contract for next season and I can stay on here.” McLaren is the club’s third top goalscorer this season but has found himself on the fringes at times due to the impressive form of Andy Rodgers, who has scored 10 goals, and even more so Rory McAllister, who is closing in on 30 goals for the season.

McLaren, who lives on Dunbar’s Wingate Crescent, added: “I think straight away I settled in and they made me feel more than welcome.

“I would like to play a bit more than I have but Rory has scored nearly 30 goals this year and Andy has done well too.

“They have played great and I have learnt a lot from them.

“I wish I had played more games but I would sign up there again.”