Goalkeeper Joe Malin enjoyed his near nine year spell at Ross County that saw him involved in a squad that rose and rose to new heights however, winning a promotion Play-Off spot with Elgin City will mean just as much if not more.
Malin is at last establishing himself as a first choice shot-stopper after leaving Dingwall and moving east across the Highlands in January and he said: “It has been brilliant to get a run of games at first team level. In fact, it has been the longest run of games in my career and is up to 16 in a row now. It is a great feeling to know that you can train all week and then have a game to play in.”
The season has been one of transformation for the 24-year-old who said: “I was on the bench for Ross County when their SPL season started against Motherwell at Victoria Park. I thought I was going to be there all season and then I played a reserve game on the Tuesday night afterwards and injured my knee.”
“That was it for my County career really.”
It had been a career of decent length with Malin explaining: “I had moved there just before I turned 16 which was some eight and a half years ago. I was pretty young to be living just outside of Inverness on my own but I had been offered a two year skill seeker deal after being released by Celtic and was keen to take it.”
“After I had been released by Celtic my Dad sent my CV into a lot of clubs and County got in touch. Gardner Speirs was the Head of Youth at the club at the time and after a short trial up there he offered me the chance to join them.”
Despite not playing in a lot of games it is a decision that Malin does not regret saying: “It was really good to be part of Ross County during the past few years. We won the Challenge Cup and then had a relegation to the Second Division in 2007 but after that we had success after success.”
“I was on the bench for a Scottish Cup semi-final win against Celtic at Hampden as well as a Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United. We won a Challenge Cup and then won the First Division so it was a tremendous time to be involved with County.”
There were several good reasons why Malin never made the breakthrough into being the number one at Dingwall as he said: “When I was first went there Stuart Garden was the goalkeeper and he was really experienced. After that came Craig Samson, Tony Bullock, Derek Soutar, Michael McGovern and then Michael Fraser so there was always an experienced goalkeeper in front of me.”
Malin saw positives and negatives as he explained: “It was unfortunate as I never played in a lot of games but fortunate as I trained with really good guys every day.”
The move to Elgin was a move back to familiar territory for the shot-stopper who said: “I actually had two spells at Elgin earlier in my career so I knew a fair amount about the club. I had gone there for a six month spell nearly 6 years ago but after just a month there was an injury at County and I went back.”
“It was good to have had some games at Elgin as when I went back to County I had my longest run in their first team and playing for Elgin helped me do that.”
Malin’s next time with the Moray men was brief, however it attracted national headlines as the goalkeeper explained: “My second spell was only for one or two games but of course I was involved in the Scottish Cup game that never was. I was awarded the Man of the Match as we defeated Spartans 2-1 in December 2008 but I should not have played in it as I was not signed in time for the initial date that the game was due to be played.”
“I got a phone call on the Sunday night telling me what had happened and telling me that the game may not have mattered. In the end it was replayed and I was not allowed to play in it. Elgin lost it and I returned to County not long after that so I never got all the games I wanted then either.”
A third move to Elgin began with a short loan spell this January that was quickly converted to a permanent signing with Malin saying: “I was enjoying this season with County but after I picked up the knee injury they brought in Mark Brown. It got me thinking about where I would end up at the end of the season as my contract was running out.”
“I was delighted to get another opportunity at Elgin and I am grateful for the chance that the manager Ross Jack has taken on me. Hopefully I will repay the faith he has shown in me.”
Malin joined Elgin in the middle of a run that looked to be ending their interest in this season’s promotion affairs, however four wins and a draw in their last six games has rekindled hopes of being involved in the play-offs.
“We had a good win at Peterhead and that sparked us up a bit,” said Malin before adding, “We then played well before losing 1-0 to Rangers but at Hampden the following week against Queen’s Park we won 1-0. That started another good run.”
“We had a disappointing spell around the time I joined where we won only once in 13 games. People were writing us off so it has been good to show that we have something about us and get back into things.”
Elgin now sit in sixth place on 45 points, a point behind both Montrose and Berwick Rangers and Malin said: “We were further out of things last week but got ourselves right back into the mix by beating Montrose. We are at home to Berwick this weekend but if we win that game we will go above them.”
“Things are really tight and as well as winning our games we have to hope that Montrose drop a point somewhere as well. If they do and we beat Berwick everything is in our hands.”
Malin added: “We have 3 games left and 2 of them are at home so we can still do it but we need 9 points from 9. Our confidence is high so we are looking forward to putting in a good performance and getting the 3 points.”
It would be two great seasons in one for Malin if Elgin make it as he explained: “Ross County have had a brilliant season, but they deserve to as they are a hard working group of boys. I am still good pals with them and I am delighted that they are doing so well.”
And after a big change this season Malin was asked what happens next and he replied: “I am contracted with Elgin until the end of the season so we will get that over with and worry about the future then.”
“I will give 100% to get us into the Play-Offs and see what happens with myself later on. So much has changed since August that I will not get hung up about things.”
Goalkeeper Malin was asked if midfielder Gavin Malin, who also features in this week’s SFL Newsletter, was any relation and he said: “No, he is not but I am sure it was Gavin that scored the winner against Elgin in the Scottish Cup replay with Spartans. The headline was something like Malin does Elgin in again.”
“That sounds funnier now than it did then.”
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