Simon Murray hopes to help title-winning Queen’s Park continue to cast a spell on the SPFL - after a brush with VOODOO at his last club in South Africa.
The Spiders hitman is celebrating after Ray McKinnon’s side worked their magic to secure the League 2 championship on Tuesday night.
Unbeaten Queen’s have romped the bottom tier in their first season as a full-time outfit - with three draws from 18 matches including Tuesday’s goalless encounter with Elgin the only minor blots.
But Murray, who blasted back from an ACL injury picked up in South Africa to hit seven goals in 12 outings, insists it’s only the start of a journey he reckons can lead to the Premiership.
And if he needs to call upon a little hocus pocus at Hampden along the way then the 29-year-old hasn’t ruled it out after two years at Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg.
The former Hibs and Dundee United striker told Record Sport : “This is my first league title and it’s special because I came into the season with a bad injury which, thankfully, didn’t stop Queen’s Park taking a chance on me.
“Hopefully this is just the start of the journey. And that I can have a big part to play in it.
“I enjoyed it in South Africa. The first season was about getting used to the dust, heat and different culture.
“And I don’t just mean the style of football but everything that surrounded it too.
“We were a European style team but we would go to other clubs that were into voodoo and all sorts.
“There were potions to put it in your boots to help you score goals - I tried that but I’m not sure it made much difference!
“It would certainly raise a few eyebrows if I tried it in the Queen’s Park dressing room. Never say never!”
Murray admits he owes Ray McKinnon and Queen’s after they handed him a two-year deal - with a year’s option - after he returned from South Africa still well-off full fitness.
Now back in Scotland with wife Casey and two-year-old son Novah he is settled and already looking forward to helping the Spiders in the next chapter of their ambitious attack on the SPFL.
He said: “I loved so much about South Africa but there’s still muggings and shootings and a fair bit of hijacking. Everywhere has crime but the scale of it over there is just a bit worse!
“So we wanted to come back especially after having Novah.
“Queen’s Park took a massive chance on me given the injury I had.
“They put me through the end of my rehab and thankfully it’s all worked out. But I still have a lot to repay them for.
“This is just the start. Next season is all about trying to get into the Championship.
“I have worked with the manager before and I don’t want to let him down.
“We are both Dundonians and he treats me a bit like a son but that means he can be harder on me. We trust each other and hopefully it kicks on next season.
“How far can we go? Why not the Premiership?
“Hamilton, Livingston and Ross County have shown the way to go. There’s a real opportunity for Queen’s Park to go and maybe take the third biggest club in Glasgow spot.
“They are building something for the future and it’s great to be part of the start of it.”
