SAUCHIE new boy Mark Finlayson insisted he is looking forward to getting a full season under his belt after the former Falkirk youngster made the switch to Beechwood Park.

The attacking full back, and former Scotland youth internationalist, joined the club in the summer and has already slotted into Iain Diack's back four, helping the side keep three clean sheets in their last four games.

But, for Finlayson, his only thought is to get back to enjoying his football this season after a miserable last few years with the Bairns.

The 20-year-old said: "At Falkirk, over the last couple of years, I wasn't really enjoying it and wasn't too disappointed when it came to an end.

"A lot of us in the team were all the same. We didn't really want to be there.

"I was actually on holiday with my girlfriend and Adrian Hanson phoned me. I missed it, but texted him and we arranged to meet up when I got back.

"We met up at Beechwood, just for a chat. But, when I got up there, I was really surprised just with the set up they have there – I wasn't expecting it all.

"Everything he had to say about the club sold it to me.

"I feel like Sauchie is the best place to get back to enjoying my football.

"I'm not really looking anywhere other than Sauchie right now. I'd happily play with them for however many more years I play football – as long as I am enjoying my football."

Finlayson, who played for the Scotland under 17s at the 2015 European Championships in Bulgaria alongside the likes of Rangers' Ross McCrorie and Celtic's Calvin Miller, spent the summer training with Alloa.

He continued: "I was in training with Alloa for a few weeks, but Jim Goodwin said his budget wasn't the greatest and had his fullbacks set already.

"He didn't want me to just be on the bench and for that to hinder my development.

"When I mentioned Sauchie, he said that was best to go out to clubs like that and play and enjoy my football."

Having already played with Conor Langton at Falkirk and grown up with Dylan Taylor, Finlayson has hit the ground running with the Reds, playing a part in their excellent start to the season.

He added: "The standard is better than I was expecting and it's not easy whatsoever. Maybe the players are not as technically good as I am used to, but they want to do as best they can.

"Iain and Adrian have been brilliant with me since I came in. Funnily enough, I didn't even realise it was Iain Diack when he first got in touch, but it soon clicked. He's the same, he just doesn't have any hair anymore.

"I just want to get back playing and enjoying some competitive football, as this will be my first season doing that."