Jake Dolzanski has thanked Jeanfield Swifts for helping turn him into a better player.
The 24-year-old centre-half this week penned a deal until the summer of 2023 with Scottish League Two side Elgin City.
Dolzanski, from Aberfeldy, signed for Swifts from Luncarty and quickly became a key asset in the heart of the defence.
He has enjoyed every minute of his time at the Riverside but the chance to join the SPFL was too good to turn down.
“I’m twice the player from when I first joined Jeanfield and I can’t thank everyone enough,” Dolzanski said.
“They were brand new with me from the very start and I feel I have improved in my couple of years there.
“It wasn’t easy to leave Jeanfield because I had such a good relationship with everyone.
“It was tough but I’m sure I’ll be seeing them again.
“I think the main highlight was Inverurie away in the Scottish Cup. That was just a brilliant day.
“And then there was the Annan Athletic game because of the crowd we had down there.
“The club, as a whole, has improved so much and the standard was better than I thought it would be.
“I think they will be up there challenging again in the Premier Division next season.
“That is definitely where they need to be aiming.”
Dolzanski had Jeanfield team-mates to lean on for advice ahead of his move to Elgin, whose manager is Gavin Price.
Chris Dodd and Chris McLeish previously plied their trade at Borough Briggs.
“It’s a big commitment but I spoke to a couple of the lads and they couldn’t speak highly enough of Elgin,” Dolzanski said.
“They told me to go for it and that I didn’t have anything to lose. I feel it is time to try move up again.
“I’m under no illusions that it is going to be another step up in class.
“If I don’t get into the team straight away, I don’t want to get too disheartened.
“But on the other hand, I’m going up there to play. I don’t want to be sitting on the bench.
“Hopefully I can get into the team and stay in it.”
One of the first competitive games Dolzanski could be involved in is against St Johnstone next month.
The teams were recently pulled out the pot in the same group of the Premier Sports Cup.
“We have pre-season games coming up and then we have Saints in the cup,” he smiled.
“That will be an experience as I’ve always been a Saints fan.
“If you told me two weeks ago that I might have a chance of lining-up against them, I would’ve laughed.”
