Danny Swanson claims the outcome of Dundee United’s centenary season lifting the Scottish Cup after finishing third in the SPL proves it’s worth top-flight clubs taking a risk on lower-league players.
The one-time Berwick Rangers winger was one of three players in the club’s cup line-up who had been unearthed from the SFL Morgaro Gomis (Cowdenbeath) and man of the match Craig Conway (Ayr United) being the others.
And Swanson is adamant there remain rich pickings to be found down the divisions.
“You look at our midfield and it was pretty much made up of guys who’ve had to work their way up to this level,” he said.
“Morgaro, Craig Conway and myself, we’ve all come from a lower grade.
“And this just shows where hard work can take you.
“I’ve tried to become a better player at Dundee United and hopefully have succeeded.
“And there are guys still out there who, given the chance, could make it at this grade.
“I was 20 before I got my break, and that’s quite late in this day and age.
“But I’ve a mate at Berwick who is 24 and there are teams chasing him and he’s just one of a number of players in that league who could, given the opportunity, do a job at a higher level.”
Swanson reckons the main reason for United’s Hampden win was that they did to County what the Staggies had done to Celtic and Hibs earlier in the competition.
“Ross County got right in Hibs’ and Celtic’s faces,” he said. “I think they got a fright finding us getting right in about them. For me that’s what won us the game.”
Swanson had a typically eventful afternoon, coming desperately close to opening the scoring with a surging run from deep inside his own half that ended with County being saved only by a fantastic intervention by Alex Keddie, then having to leave the field with cramp.
“It was a brilliant day but what hard work,” he said. “I found it tough going on that pitch. And that’s why I had to come off.
“I was pretty nervous and excited in the build-up to the game and maybe that took more out of me than I’d thought.
“I didn’t feel tired or anything during the match but all of a sudden my calf cramped up and I couldn’t get rid of it.
“Earlier on I thought I was going to score one of the great cup final goals when I burst through in the first half but the park was sticky and, although I got my shot off, the boy came from nowhere to make a great block.”