Graeme Smith is hoping to win promotion with Raith Rovers after suffering the bitter blow of relegation last season with Peterhead.
The keeper, who has also played for Kilmarnock, Rangers, St Mirren and St Johnstone, joined the Kirkcaldy side last month on a short-term deal until January.
Rovers boss Barry Smith brought him in after first-choice goalie Aaron Lennox suffered a serious groin injury.
Keeper Smith has now kept three clean sheets in four matches for table-topping Rovers and he admits he is just delighted to be back playing full-time football once again.
He said: “It was disappointing the way things ended at Peterhead with the club being relegated.
“I had been there four and a half years and we never thought that would happen.
“It was probably time for a few players to move on and I was one of them.
“I enjoyed my time up there and there are a lot of good people at the club but it was time to look for a fresh challenge.”
Smith added: “I am 35 next month but I intend to keep playing for as long as I can.
“I wouldn’t like to think that in five or 10 years’ time, I would look back and think I had finished with a relegation.
“I have been lucky enough to have a lot of highs in the game but last season was definitely one of the low points.
“It took me a while to get things sorted club wise this season but then the opportunity came up to train with Raith.
“I did that for a few days and was made to feel really welcome. There is an absolutely fantastic dressing-room of boys and I am enjoying full-time training again.
“It has been going well so far and long may it continue.
“That’s three clean sheets in four games and four wins so everything is going well.
“I am hoping to be part of something successful this year.
“We just have to keep on trying to win our games but it would be fantastic for myself and the club to have a bit of success after what happened to both parties last season.”
Smith revealed that he combines playing for Raith with coaching at Rangers.
He said: “I am academy goalie coach at Rangers as well. The manager is happy for me to continue doing that as that could be the next 15 to 20 years of my career on the coaching side.
“Rangers have also been happy and are backing me to keep playing for as long as I can.
“So it is good that I can fulfil both of those positions.
“My deal at Raith is until January and then we will cross that bridge when we come to it.”
