Morton’s left back, Willie Dyer, is glad to be finally playing his football on the west side of the country after more than 10 years of long journeys to play on the left side of east coast clubs.
The 25-year-old moved to Greenock during the close season season, ironically after playing the last game of season 2011/12 at Cappielow for Raith Rovers after being developed through the youth system at St. Johnstone and then playing for Brechin City before moving on to the club that he will face this weekend in First Division action, Raith Rovers.
Dyer said: “I live in Drumchapel in Glasgow and until this season, everywhere I had played seemed to be a fair camel trek away from home. Joining a club that was only 20-25 minutes away from my house was a big factor in my move to Morton in the summer.
“I had been at Perth since I was a kid and they put me out on loan to Brechin and it was quite an easy thing to sign for them when my contract was up at St. Johnstone. I then moved on to Raith for two years which I enjoyed but it is certainly good to be spending less time travelling to training.”
There were other factors about his move with Dyer adding: “The Manager, Allan Moore, really sold this club to me. As well as the locality, he told me when I first met him who else he wanted to bring here and what his plans were.
“When he talked about his transfer targets, I felt that we would have a decent side that could be in the top three this season and to be fair, he has brought them all in. There were a lot of new faces over the summer, something like 12 or 13, so we are a new team really but we are beginning to gel now.”
Moore’s management style also attracted Dyer who said: “The gaffer has been involved in football for a long time and everyone knows about his enthusiasm for the game. He has told us he is distancing himself from his players more these days but he is always in there having a laugh and a joke.
“I am really enjoying being at Morton and there is a great bunch of boys there. However, whilst the Manager likes a bit of banter, he is really not scared to give the boys a hard time when it is required.”
Morton got their season off to a decent start with a a 5-1 cruise against East Stirlingshire in The Ramsdens Cup, and a 2-0 Scottish Communities League Cup success over Albion Rovers before the First Division action started. A 2-2 draw with Livingston at Cappielow saw the first point of the season gained but things stuttered after that as there was a Ramsdens Cup exit in extra-time to Queen of the South.
Dyer missed these games as his starting place in the new look Morton team was delayed until the fifth game of the season when they drew 1-1 away to Hamilton Academical after he picked up an injury. It was a frustrating time for Dyer and Morton with Manager Allan Moore having to contend with a mini-injury crisis as the full-back, along with Kevin Rutkiewicz, Martin Hardie and Peter MacDonald, all sat things out with the influential Mark McLaughlin also missing the opening League games through suspension.
“I had played in all of our pre-season games and was raring to go,” admitted Dyer before adding, “and then I got injured in training. I blocked a cross coming over and damaged my ankle ligaments and that put me out.”
McLaughlin played in the cup ties and was at the centre of the home defence when visitors Aberdeen required extra-time to win 2-0 in The Scottish Communities League Cup with Morton’s frustration at how their early season was going increasing when Falkirk won 2-1 at Cappielow in their next League outing.
Dyer said: “We had been playing well in parts of games but we needed to find a consistent level both individually and as a team. Big Mark came back in against Dumbarton in the League and that was another piece in the jigsaw and we won that game 3-0.
“We then had the international break which in a way was disappointing as we were really keen to get playing again straight away but had to wait to the Cowdenbeath game last Saturday. We won that one 4-3 but let ourselves down a bit by losing a couple of late goals so we know that we are not the finished article.”
Dyer added: “Once we have everyone available, I would reckon that our performances will be stronger as there will be even more competition for places. If you don’t deliver in these circumstances then you will not have a starting jersey in the next game.”
The next game for Morton is against Dyer’s previous club from Stark’s Park and ironically, it was against Morton that he played his last game for the Fife club as Raith brought the curtain down on last season with a 3-1 success at the Tail o’ the Bank ground.
Dyer said: “They have started the season well and I am really looking forward to seeing them again. I am a good friend of Brian Graham, who has done the opposite journey to me and moved from Morton to Rovers, and he is very happy with the start they have made.”
Former team-mate Grant Murray is now in charge of the Kirkcaldy club following John McGlynn’s move to Heart of Midlothian in the summer and his appointment as Raith’s Player/Manager was no surprise to Dyer.
“You could always tell Grant would become a Manager one day,” said Dyer before adding, “And as soon as I heard that John was going to Hearts, I knew he would be appointed. He is a good leader on the pitch and I am sure he will be a decent Manager as well.
“Partick Thistle are the team we are all chasing now as they are absolutely flying. They were probably the favourites for promotion at the start of the season due to the strength of squad they brought in but I would like to think that there is not too much difference between their squad and ours.
“Once we have everyone back in, you will see a much better indication of what Morton can do this season.”
After playing against their former team-mate and his new look Morton side, Raith Rovers travel to Parkhead to face Celtic in The Scottish Communities League Cup on Tuesday night and Dyer is warning his new chums to be wary of facing a set of extra determined players.
He explained: “The Raith players know that a good performance against us will see them get a starting place in what is a really big game at Parkhead. That will make a tough game even tougher for us.”
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