Ryan Strain recalled an unusual summer which helped him get his career back on track at Falkirk.
The 29-year-old Australian right-back was looking for a club after his contract at Dundee United had expired when he joined up with PFA Scotland’s inaugural free agent training camp in Kirkintilloch.
The former Maccabi Haifa and St Mirren player, who began his senior career in Australia with Adelaide United, then got the call from Bairns boss John McGlynn before signing on a one-year deal.
Ahead of the trip to St Johnstone in the William Hill Premiership on Saturday, Strain said: “They put on a training camp, and it was brilliant, like coming back to a club. So I’ve got to thank them. They had coaches in lunches, everything, and it was brilliant.
“It’s mentally hard (without a club). It’s good that you’re with people in the same position though. I think the best thing about the PFA (initiative) is that you’re with people who are in the same position. You can talk to people about what’s going on and everything like that.
“Trying to train on your own as a footballer is so hard; you’re just doing box to box every day, and you’re sick of it. So it was good to get in, train with a group of lads, and that mentally helped.
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“I was there for two weeks. I then got a phone call from the manager here, just seeing what I was doing, and as soon as I heard Falkirk was interested, I really wanted to make that happen.
“I rang my agent and said, ‘yeah, make that one happen’, because I was watching them last year, and the football they were playing was outstanding, and I just wanted to be a part of it.
“Last season wasn’t my best, probably my worst season in Scotland. I got an injury early, and then just couldn’t get back in the team, and coming off contracts is hard, but thankfully I got a chance here and just trying to repay that.
“I have loved it, loved every minute, playing a lot of games, played every minute in the league this season so far.”
Falkirk beat Hearts 2-1 at home on Tuesday night for their first win in six games, and Strain is looking to build on that impressive result in Perth.
He said: “It was massive. I think we’ve been playing well, but just haven’t had the results to back it up, and to get three points puts us right in the pack, and hopefully we can go this Saturday and try to get back-to-back (wins).”
