We caught up with Glenavon’s latest signings at training tonight for a chat and a photo opp.

Dylan King was first up as Gary Hamilton welcomed him to his first training session since joining the Club.

Although he moved across the water to Oldham Athletic aged just 16, Dylan did play one game in the Premiership with Institute. “It was the last game of the season and it was a good experience. That summer I moved to Oldham on a two year scholarship which was a great experience. I was living away from home for the first time which wasn’t easy and I did feel homesick but once the season got going and I got to know people it went really well and I enjoyed it.

“I was there for two years but when a new manager came in I wasn’t kept on as a pro and Stephen Robinson was at Motherwell and he knew me from playing for Northern Ireland from Under 16 Victory Shield and Under 19’s. I enjoyed it at Motherwell too; I was living in my own flat and cooking for myself so I was enjoying the independence. I was there for a year but things didn’t work out in the end – that’s just the way football goes – I needed to go and get senior games so that’s why I’ve joined the Irish League, which is a tough league to play in.

“I’ve got a real hunger to get playing every Saturday and I really do want to try to be the first name on the team sheet and get that excitement back on a Saturday morning when you’re going to play a game. I haven’t had that in quite a while so I’m definitely looking forward to it, especially at a great Club like Glenavon. I’ve known the boys for a week or so and it’s been really good and the whole setup is great- it’s exciting!”

Gary Muir is no stranger to the Irish League, having played with Lisburn Distillery and Ballymena United so he has some idea of the standard though he knows it has improved a lot since his previous time here. He’s spent the last six years playing in Malta also having a spell in Central America in Guatemala.

“I’d spoken to Gary last January but nothing came of it but we said we’d keep in touch until next season because I was looking to leave Malta at the time and it’s just came about. It’s difficult to get a club back home (in Scotland) but Gary was looking for a player and ‘here we are’.

“I enjoyed my time in the Irish League before and I obviously knew that the people here and at home in Scotland are similar and we get on well. Everyone talks highly of Glenavon and people have told me what a great job Gary has done here and I remember playing against him – what a player he was! It makes a lot of difference when everyone thinks highly of the coach.”