Craig Bryson admits he can relate to East Kilbride’s struggles to reach the SPFL, having spent eight seasons at Derby County without play-off success.
And he reckons with Kilby being among the Lowland League favourites every year, it adds an extra pressure. Bryson is on the backroom team of Kilby boss Mick Kennedy this season and is hoping to see his hometown team finally win promotion to League Two, after almost a decade of trying.
In his playing days, Bryson produced some of the best football of his career at Derby, but it wasn’t enough for the Rams to make the charge from Championship side to the riches of the English Premier League, as they suffered numerous play-off heartaches.
East Kilbride have twice faltered - losing to Cowdenbeath on penalties in the 2017 play-off final and losing to Cove in the semi-finals in 2019 - and currently sit top of the Lowland League in pursuit of a third crack at glory.