LONG-STANDING Dunbar United defender Grant Thomson will welcome his hometown club to New Countess Park on Saturday.
The Kirkcaldy-born club captain has been with the Seasiders for 10 years over four spells and his loyalty will be rewarded this weekend when Raith Rovers make the trip across the Forth.
The 32-year-old played with Dunbar Colts as a youngster and made his debut for the first team against Broxburn Athletic in May 2009.
Since then, he has been a regular in the side and now sits in the top 10 in the club’s all-time appearance chart.
His testimonial kicks off at 3pm and Thomson was “super proud” to be involved in the occasion.
He said: “It is just pride to celebrate it against Raith Rovers.
“They are a family-backed club and I am from Kirkcaldy.
“I was born in Kirkcaldy and my dad stays there and I would go back every second weekend and would go round to Stark’s Park and watch Raith play, which stuck with me.
“I kept in touch with the club following their results and the odd game here and there.”
It will not only mark a milestone for Thomson, who is an electrician at Torness Power Station.
The match will be Ian Murray’s first game in charge of the Fife side, who finished fifth in the SPFL Championship.
Thomson said: “I was so surprised how good they were.
“I contacted them by email and they were more than happy to accommodate the game. They have been great since and contacting us about Raith TV coming.
“It has been amazing and I am really happy it is happening.”
Thomson, who lives in Dunbar with wife Adele and young son Ellis, had brief spells with Musselburgh Athletic and Haddington Athletic.
However, it is not just being close to home that has seen Thomson return to Dunbar United, playing under managers Davie Lees, Geoff Jones and Kevin Haynes.
He took on the captain’s armband on a permanent basis at the beginning of the year following the retirement of Fraser McLaren.
He added: “The community feel connected to the club.
“Whether I am working at Torness or golfing at Dunbar, being in the community it makes me want to play for the club.
“I have got a lot of family and friends who come along and watch me and that is good as well.
“Obviously, the club has got the new stand, hopefully being ready for the testimonial, and the new committee, stuff on social media platforms as well.
“Even just the community – the gates being up here and attendances up in the last couple of seasons.”
Unfortunately, the Seasiders suffered last-day heartache last season as they were relegated from the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) Premier Division following defeat to Tynecastle.
The new campaign kicks off at the end of July and Thomson and team-mates are already looking to bounce back to the top flight.
He said: “I just cannot wait to get back out there and try to right that.
“It has not been a great few weeks thinking about that but we have made a good few signings. We started pre-season training and had 20-odd players, which was good.
“We are hoping to get back out, starting with the testimonial, and we have got some good friendlies with Hibs and Hearts.
“Then we go again and are definitely trying to get back up at the first time of asking.”
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