Rory MacEwan has signed a pre-contract with Elgin City FC, completing a hat-trick of Stirling University football scholars set to make the jump to a semi-professional side in the 2019/20 season.
After four years playing for the university’s first team as a midfielder, the 21-year-old will graduate and take a step up in the ranks to play for the semi-professional League Two side in August.
MacEwan is no stranger to the club, having played for them previously, racking up seven appearances with them in the 2014/15 season.
He was also part of the University of Stirling squad that lost 4-0 to the League Two side in the third round of the Scottish FA cup in November.
MacEwan said: “I’m thrilled to have signed the contract and get sorted for next year, I can’t wait to get started.”
He also added: “It took me a year or so at the start to adapt to playing in the adult league but since then, I have played in most of the lowland league fixtures which has allowed me to improve a lot.”
MacEwan also explained that he has learned a huge amount from his two coaches throughout his time at university.
The squad is coached currently by Chris Geddes, who has played for the university in the past, and formerly by Shelley Kerr, who has since went on to coach the Scottish women’s national team.
MacEwan’s University of Stirling teammates Blair Lyons and Lewis Hunter have also secured contracts with semi-pro clubs for next year, with Hunter set to play for East Fife FC in League One.
Lyons has signed for Montrose, who will either play alongside East Fife in League One, or enter into the Scottish Championship, depending on the results of the upcoming championship play-offs.
It is clear to see that the University of Stirling is producing some top quality footballers, and it will be interesting to see how the squad progresses in the 2019/20 season after the loss of some key players.
Fourth-year BA (Hons) Journalism Studies student.
News Editor, Sports Editor and Head of Proofreading for Brig Newspaper.
