Summer signing Josh Rennie is hoping the family feel at Stranraer will help push the club up the League Two table.
The frontman was one of a number of new faces coming through the doors at Stair Park in the close season – although he is more familiar than many.
The teenager, who lives in the town, has enjoyed his first few months with the Blues after making the switch from Kilmarnock.
He said: “It is a new experience from full-time football and to now playing football with men.
“The environment you are in is great and it feels like an actual club, like a wee family.
“The change has been massive for me because when you are playing reserves or under-18 football it is not really competitive.
“Obviously, the games where I have come off the bench or started, you can feel the intensity.
“It is difficult and weird to explain but it is just more meaningful.
“Reserves and under-18s do not have the same importance.
“At this level, you need to win games to stay in the league and to get points.”
If Rennie had any doubts about making the move to Stair Park, they were quickly quashed by a number of familiar faces.
After being released by the Rugby Park side, discussions took place with now former Stranraer boss Stevie Farrell.
Rennie said: “Josh Walker spoke to Jamie Hamill about it as well and he gave me a phone.
“I came in and played a few games and impressed.
“It was terrible when I was released; it was really bad.
“I had no job, nothing, and you are just chucked under the bus.
“It was not great for a couple of weeks but I got through it, kept myself fit and the opportunity came about.
“I know all the ex-Kilmarnock boys and I knew Matty Yates already as well.
“I spoke to Innes Cameron and he was the exact same as what I said earlier – it feels like a wee family.”
Nineteen-year-old Rennie would be delighted to follow in the footsteps of Cameron, who is now a regular fixture of the Kilmarnock first team after a loan spell with Stranraer that saw 10 goals in 29 league appearances.
In the meantime, Rennie is keen to get that first senior goal and was looking forward to Saturday’s contest with Stirling Albion.
He said: “If I am starting or if I am on the bench, I just want to prove a point to the manager and fans.
“I want to do well this season for the club.”
