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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
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.'
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbirde boss: Bonnyrigg Rose will come for us in second leg, job is far from done
Mick Kennedy says Kilby's 10-year bid for promotion to the SPFL will act as a reminder they haven't acheived anything yet, despite strong first leg showing East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy warned their job is far from done after taking a huge step towards the SPFL next season with a 3-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose in the first leg of the League Two play-offs. And he insisted the fact promotion from the Lowland League has eluded the club for over a decade should serve as a warning for next week's second leg in Midlothian. Striker Cami Elliott was at the double for the hosts, netting after just two minutes and early in the second half, either side of an equaliser from ex-Kilby man Aaron Arnott. But Jordan McGregor struck in the 72nd minute to give EK a two-goal advantage for the decider at New Dundas Park. It puts Kilby on the cusp of promotion after three painful close calls down the years and despite dominating their visitors in the second half, Kennedy knows Rose could still be a thorn in their side. He said: "I'm delighted with the second half performance. I thought we started the game really well, going 1-0 up so quickly. We had a 10-15 minute spell where we were controlling the game, shifting them across the pitch. "But after Bonnyrigg scored, we were all over the place. The whole structure goes, people start dropping into areas of the pitch we don't ask them to and that's where their goal comes from. "But once we got in at half-time and fixed that. We were a lot more dominant in the second half. "I thought Bonnyrigg's shape was really good out of possession, they obviously came to frustrate us, but once we fixed our structure at half-time and how to break that first press, I thought we were thoroughly deserving of our victory. "But this game is nowhere near done. This club has tried to get out of this league for 10 years and not succeeded so there certainly won't be any complacency from myself. "We temper expectations by reminding them we've not gone up in the space of 10 years. The club hasn't managed to cross that line. "But I think we need to be respectful to Bonnyrigg as well. They have been in the Lowland League and did well to get to League Two, so I think it will be a different game. "I think they will be a lot more aggressive and a lot more forward thinking. They will probably create more opportunities as well so it is about how we deal with that. We need to find a game plan with some kind of attacking intent." The hosts stated their intent very early on and inside 45 seconds John Robertson cut inside before he saw a thumping effort deflected inches over the top. And from the resulting corner, Kilby took an early lead. Reegan Mimnaugh swung in a ball towards the back post and Elliott's looping header dropped into the far corner to get the hosts off to a dream start. In 16 the visitors pulled level in controversial circumstances. EK were screaming for a foul on Jordan McGregor out wide inside their own half, but referee Dan McFarlane waved play on and Rose capitalised. Kieran Somerville drove into the box and his cut back found Arnott for a composed finish into the bottom corner. Reegan Mimnaugh came to Kilby's rescue in 52 minutes when he headed Angus Mailer's header off the line and that proved a pivotal moment, as Kiby raced up the pitch and scored from the next attack. Great work from Nathan Flanagan saw him burst down the wing and he delivered a tantalising ball across the face of goal for Elliott to slide in and knock home from all of two yards. In 72 minutes EK added to their tally after some fine build-up. Mimnaugh dinked the ball to the back post and Jamie Hamilton of all people produced a stunning scissor kick, which crashed off the crossbar and fell to McGregor to poke the ball home. In the 90th minute Elliott almost grabbed his hat-trick but Flangan's driven cross just escaped him in the six-yard box. Kennedy added: "I certainly think we could have had another goal. Flanagan fires one across the front and Cami doesn't get on it. "But if you said we'd go into the second leg with a two-goal lead, I'd have bitten your hand off. "Last year, we dominated Stranraer here and missed numerous opportunities to end up going down there at 2-2, so we've got to take the positives from the scoreline."
