This time last year, Ryan Edgar was getting ready for his first full season in League Two.
Another 40 appearances, five goals and two assists later, he looks like being a key part of Chris Aitken’s new look squad.
Stranraer kick off their new season in just two days’ time when familiar first day foes Ross County make the journey to Stair Park.
Edgar said: “I am really excited for the new season.
“It is going to be a good challenge and, hopefully, a better season than last year.
“It was a major jump up from what I was used to.
“Now, getting a year of experience, I feel I can go and be a bit more clinical in front of goal and be more of an asset to the team.”
Opening fixtures against Ross County, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South will provide real tests for Stranraer.
It has been 12 years since the Blues beat the Staggies, 19 years since defeating Thistle and 19 since they defeated Queen of the South – with a certain Lee Sharp scoring the winner.
Many in Scottish football have also tipped Stranraer to struggle in League Two.
Edgar, who scored in the League Cup last term, said:
“We want to be in the top half of the table.
“As much as it is proving people wrong, we want to be showing our fans we are a good team.
“When we are on our game, we want to be a team that should not be messed with.
“We want teams to be coming here and worrying when they are playing us.”
Incredibly, Edgar now has the third most appearances for Stranraer out of the current squad – behind only Finn Ecrepont and Deryn Lang, who have both played 69 times for the Blues.
Edgar has reached 44 appearances, despite making his debut just 15 months ago.
He said: “It has been a big change of the players, with the players we have kept and those that have moved on.
“It is taking a bit of adapting and just getting used to everybody’s playing styles.
“We are still melding together and there were a couple of boys just signed this week.
“It takes time but we are getting better as the weeks progress and training is good as well.”
