PLAYER SPOTLIGHT – MR VERSATILE

One Player, Two league setups, Multiple positions and a whole lot of quality performances.

We take a look at Ben Mitchell who is s very interesting player to us, He is one of a few players who spring to mind who play in the GCFA and the GDSFC

Ben can usually be found playing on the right hand side of the park for his club teams and even in goals on the odd occasion.

Hi Ben, a crazy weekend for you, i hope not every weekend is like that,

lets get to know you a bit better

Who have you played for within the GCFA? Rosehill United & Croftpark

How long have you played in the GDSFC ? 2 years for Phoenix

How have you evolved since you started playing competitive football ? I’ve become versatile in many positions, not many people can say they’ve played every position in an 11 a-side game

What challenges have you faced on your journey to where you are in your playing career now ? Injuries have been an issue for me, luckily nothing too serious

Do you enjoy playing Saturday and Sunday when you can ? I do but my body does not thank me on a Monday

Did you play for any previous teams outwith the ones you have mentioned? I ran my own team back home Kingussie, since I moved to Glasgow I only played with Firhill Star and Rosehill United prior to my current teams.

How have the past teams you’ve played in made you a better player? Played with a lot of good players who I’ve learnt a lot from

How would you describe your season so far? Crazy, started well with Phoenix picking up 4 goals and 13 assists so far this season mainly from right back and now been filling in in goals, keeping our first clean sheet of the season and saving a penalty at the weekend.

What are your hopes for the season ? With croftpark I hope to just get as many minutes and wins under the belt as possible after the split.

With Eastend Phoenix, very much the same however we are in last 16 of a cup so that has to be the aim.

Have you generally been injury free throughout your career? Serious injuries yes, however had a lot of muscle issues which have been frustrating.

Is their a player or player or manager who have been most influential over your career? No one in particular, I’ve enjoyed working under all my managers and always been part of some great teams with some really good players

Can you describe a particularly memorable goal or victory that stands out in your mind? I’ve scored a good few goals in my time, a couple free kicks for Firhill Star stand out in my memory.

Who was your manager at Firhill Star?

Will Sinclair, Will build up a great team and we were very unfortunate to have to fold.

Who is dressing room joker?Croftpark – Geo Boothby East End Phoenix – Ala Jemmali

Who is brightest player In your dressing room? I’ll base this as on the park cos there isn’t anyone standing out off it 🤣 Croftpark – Cammy Hendry East End Phoenix – Mark Mchugh

If you could trade places with your Manager Scott for a day, what’s the first ridiculous rule you would enforce? Play myself up front

What’s the worst excuse you’ve ever heard from a teammate for missing a game ? Sore hand/thumb (not a keeper)

Whats kind are your favourite boots ? Adidas, Puma or New balance are by far the comfiest. Nike look nice but horrible to wear

Who were your football hero growing up? Steven Davis and Luis Suarez

Who do you think is the best player in the world right now? Mbappe easily

Who is the Best player ever that you have seen live? Jude Bellingham

Best Rosehill player ever played with ? Olamide Stephen, wow what a player

Best Croftpark player ever played with ? Cammy Hendry, technically brilliant

Best Eastend player ever played with ? Mark Mchugh, scores goals for fun

Best Firhill star player ever played with ? Drew Purdy

Your favourite position to play?

Right back

Best Player seen in the GDSFC Throughout career ? Don’t know many outside my own team, I’ll be bias and pick Mark Mchugh or Sean Mccarroll

Who is Croftparks best playerat the moment? The captain Marco, very consistent

Who is Eastend Phoenix’s best player? His head will be huge after this but the i’m not too sure where the team would be without marks goals.

Who are you playing with these days who has the potential to be a top player ? Olamide Stephen is the highest potential player I’ve played with. He suffered a nasty leg break last year but looking forward to seeing him back to it some time soon, proper player.

Who is the craziest player you have ever played with? Sean Mccarroll without a doubt, what a player but he’s mental. Top guy.

THOUGHTS FROM THE GAFFERS ⬇️

Scott from Rosehill United and currently Croftpark FC

Ben is a fantastic player to have in your squad and starting team. Ben’s versatility can be a massive plus for the club he plays for.

Ben can seamlessly move between defensive and attacking positions, He is a defender who can play as both a center-back and full-back and easily step into midfield too

Players like Ben are just so valuable to their teams and they are not easy to find. Ben provides depth in the team with his flexibility which in turn give me a whole range of tactical options i can use on the park in any one game.

If i was to liken Ben to a player who currently plays just now id have to include a versatile player, Ones who spring to my mind are Philipp Lahm and Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern or James Tavernier of Rangers who have all excelled in various roles throughout their careers.

Honestly if you watched Ben play in multiple positions you would struggle to figure out which position is his best position.

With Ben working full time and also playing on a Sunday my biggest headache is trying to get him on the pitch regularly for Croftpark. There is no doubt in my mind that having a fit Ben Mitchell makes Croftpark a stronger team.

I first came across Ben at Rosehill united when Geo Boothby recommended me him when i told him i needed a defender.

Ben came along and slotted into the team like he had been playing in the GCFA Premier League for years. The full backs performances against teams like PSP and Corinthians were just outstanding.

I hope we have many more years of seeing ben play his football for Croftpark FC and Eastend Phoenix.

Stephen Sinclair at Croftpark

To be honest i have only really came across Ben Mitchell in the last year or so, I had herd so many good things about him from Scott and Geo Boothby,

Ben certainly did not disappoint when i finally got to see him take to the field, He is a big physical player who can get up and down the park and deliver a fantastic ball into the box.

Getting Ben available for more games would be a big bonus for us.