East Kilbride hero Jordan McGregor: I was going to quit game until we won promotion
The defender netted the goal that helped send Kilby up to the SPFL after 11 years of trying and also admitted he played through injury to help the case
East Kilbride hero Jordan McGregor admits he was thinking about quitting the game before Kilby won their historic promotion to the SPFL last month.
The former Airdrie and Stirling Albion man had an injury hit campaign and juggling part-time football with his day job as a production operator was taking its toll.
However, after scoring Kilby's final goal of the season in the 3-1 aggregate win over Bonnyrigg Rose in the League Two play-off final, McGregor says the joy of guiding the club to the senior ranks has encouraged him to put any idea of hanging up his boots on hold.
The 28-year-old revealed: 'I was at a bit of a crossroads before we got promoted, wondering if I was going to keep playing or just focus on my work life.
'As soon as we got promoted I just felt like what would be the point in giving up now? The gaffer has said to me a million times I am too young to retire and too big a player, so he helped make my mind up.
'I want to do this for another year at least. I'm a production operator and I work shifts so it is hard to balance it all, but I've managed to do this season and I will make it work next season.
'I am really looking forward to it. The squad we had last season would have been right up there challenging in League Two - if not winning it - so I can't wait to see how we compete there now we are in it.
'I think we will be right up there, whether it is winning it or being in the play-offs.'
McGregor also revealed that he was so desperate to play his part, he played through the pain barrier for the team this season and even kept a recurrence of his hamstring problem under wraps.
Fortunately, a red card in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Brora Rangers aided his recovery.
He added: 'I got a fracture on my foot in the first competitive game and I was back for a while, then I did my groin close to Christmas.
'I came back and then tore my hamstring in March, which made it look like I wouldn't be fit for the play-offs. That was a big worry for me and the staff because I was a big part of the team at that point.
'When I did come back, I definitely came back too early and I didn't say anything to anyone.'I felt a tweak in my hamstring and it kind of went again. I ended up getting sent off in that [Brora] game and it gave me a week to rest.
'In hindsight, it was a good red card because my hamstring was fine for the final, but it showed how much I wanted to play in the play-off games.
'I was willing to push my body as far as I could just to be involved. It all worked out well in the end so I'm happy with that.
'Obviously, I scored the last goal of the season for us to help win the play-off and I felt getting the clean sheet in that final game was a big thing as well.
'I'm a no-nonsense type defender and I think that's what helped get us over the line on the day. That grit and desire to get the clean sheet and get the boys promoted.'
McGregor has signed up for another campaign and said it was just a relief to get the club promoted.
He said: 'It was a hard season but when we won the play-off, I knew it was some achievement and I saw what it meant to the whole town, the fans, the owners and the gaffer.
'I've only been at EK a year but I have seen how much it means here. Sometimes that's why you play football, to see the impact winning games has on other people and it makes you want to keep doing it.
'I was absolutely buzzing to get that win and it was a big relief, to be honest.'
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