Paul Slane has announced his footballing comeback as he signed a one-year deal with Open Goal Broomhill. The 30-year-old will end six years out of the game by joining podcast partner Si Ferry at the Lowland League club.
Ferry was unveiled as the club's new manager in May in a partnership between Open Goal and the Glasgow-based side. Initially launched as a podcast, Open Goal has become part of the Scottish football fabric with live shows and events featuring Ferry, Slane, Andy Halliday and Kevin Kyle plus a host of famous names from around the game as regular guests.
Their latest venture is an ambitious Broomhill link-up with Ferry at the helm and he's now added former Motherwell and Celtic youth Slane as a player-coach. The winger last played for Clyde under Barry Ferguson in 2016 but he insists he's been grafting to rediscover his fitness - a process captured in a documentary set to air on YouTube at the end of June as the club prepare for the upcoming season at their new Broadwood home.
Slane said: “I am delighted to sign my first contract in six years and get back to playing football. Returning to football has been something that has niggled away in the back of my mind for a while and I wanted to give it one last go. I know I still have something to offer and I have been working hard to get back fit in order to show that.
“Signing with Open Goal Broomhill is the next step in my comeback journey and I am also excited to take the next step in my coaching career by joining Si’s staff. Since I stopped playing, I threw myself into coaching and I have really enjoyed that part of the game and helping others develop.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out on that pitch and feeling that buzz again, from hopefully a big crowd at Broadwood Stadium.”
Ex- Celtic, Swindon, Dundee and Portsmouth midfielder Ferry, who retired from playing after a final year at Peterhead last season, is adamant he's seen enough to know his old pal has still got it. He said: “It’s great to have a player of Slaney’s calibre joining us.
“He has played at the top level in Scotland before and he’s proven to me already that he is on the right road fitness wise and getting his sharpness back. I’ve already seen that the quality is still there and that’s exactly why we have brought him in.
“He’s also joining my backroom staff and will be a big help in terms of his coaching as we have similar beliefs in how the game should be played. He’s also a great character to have around the dressing room and I’m delighted he’s agreed to join us.”
