STRIKER Kevin Smith is tipping Bonnyrigg Rose to surprise a few teams this season ahead of the club’s first ever season in League Two.
The Midlothian side overcame both Fraserburgh and Cowdenbeath to secure promotion into the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) earlier this summer.
The new league campaign kicks off next weekend and former Musselburgh Grammar School pupil Smith was already looking forward to the first game against Forfar Athletic.
He said: “I have spent the last eight years at East Fife but kept an eye on Bonnyrigg.
“You can see the progression of the club and the amount of season tickets sold is great.
“You can see how well the boys have done for the club and it is a club on the up.
“I’m delighted to be a part of it.
“There have been about 500 season tickets sold, which is absolutely superb.
“Obviously, first and foremost, we want to maintain our status in League Two, and we have the ability in the changing room to do that, but with a bit of luck with injuries, we can push for the play-offs.
“We don’t want to get carried away and will just take it one game at a time and see where it takes us.”
The New Dundas Park side were among those left counting the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In both 2020 and 2021, they looked in a strong position in the Scottish Lowland Football League, only for the season to be curtailed.
But last term, the squad made no mistake in finishing the job and gaining promotion.
Smith, who lives at Newcraighall, is far from alone in terms of East Lothian connections in the squad.
Goalkeeper Michael Andrews is from Haddington, while Alan Horne, Dean Brett and Neil Martynuik are from Tranent, and Robert Wilson lives in Elphinstone.
Bradley Barrett also previously played for Tranent Juniors, where coach Darren Smith was previously co-manager.
Kevin Smith, who began his career at Leeds before spells at Sunderland and Wrexham, initially returned north of the Border in 2007.
Since then, he has played for Dundee, city rivals Dundee United, Raith Rovers, Queen of the South, Dumbarton and East Fife.
He was confident that the fact so many of the players lived locally could make a difference.
The SGN employee said: “The boys being local, you’ve got a wee bit more affection to the club.
“It means a bit more and you are able to do more things socially off the park.
“It is not as much of a hardship getting to places and arranging things when trying to get boys from Glasgow or Kirkcaldy to come.
“The boys have been really close for the last eight years or so and they have welcomed me.”
The move to Midlothian comes after Smith had spent almost a decade with East Fife.
The 35-year-old won League Two with the Bayview side and scored 38 goals in 176 appearances.
His commitment to the club was rewarded during the close season with a testimonial match against Hearts.
The frontman added: “It was brilliant.
“Robbie Neilson [Hearts manager] was different class and agreed to take it on.
“I have known him for a few years at East Fife and I am extremely grateful to him.
“They brought more than 1,000 fans over, which was superb.
“It was a good turnout and they played a really strong team, which was good for my testimonial and for East Fife.”
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