Charlie Trafford has had to show patience in his debut season with Caley Thistle but the Canadian midfielder is desperate to land the first silverware of his career in tomorrow’s IRN-BRU Cup final.
Trafford has made 15 starts since joining John Robertson’s side from Finnish outfit RoPS last summer, but has struggled to sustain a lengthy run of games in the side having been hindered by thumb and head injuries.
The 25-year-old hopes to play his part in a memorable day for the Highlanders, and he said: “It’s big in my first year here to have a chance at a trophy already – it’s exciting.
“I haven’t been to a final – I lost in a semi-final back in Finland but this is a nice chance to play in my first final, so hopefully we can get a big win.
“It would be my first cup so it’s always exciting. A trophy is a trophy, it goes in the memories and experiences.
“It’s a long way so I won’t have anyone there, but I will hopefully get the family back out before the end of the season. I think everyone will be watching back at home.
“It has been difficult this season. I have been in and out, I’ve had little injuries so it has been a rollercoaster.
“I haven’t had any chance to get a rhythm here, and it is so hard as a footballer to play games when you don’t have that.
“This is definitely an opportunity. I will hopefully get the nod and then there are 11 games left in the season.”
Despite his attempts to force his way into Robertson’s side, Trafford, who has three caps for Canada, has ambitious visions with Caley Jags, who he is contracted to until 2020.
He added: “It’s a club with history and a club that has a lot of potential. I’m here to go back to the top league and carry on in my career.
“I do see it as a massive place for me, where I can flourish.
“I bought a house here so there is part of me thinking I do like it here.
“It’s easy-living. It’s a small town but not too small, and the boys are great in the team.
“I’ve got a good relationship with them and with people outside of the club.
“It’s beautiful, I’ve been around the Highlands and over to the east coast.
“I’ve gone on little tours of Loch Ness and up to Ullapool, and also down to Edinburgh and the central belt.
“It’s great living up here.”
Trafford feels he is part of a close team spirit at Caledonian Stadium, adding: “It’s like any job. People look at football but it is a job – we’re all in different parts of life.
“There’s a big group of guys in the team who have kids and wives, so they are in a completely different place from the 19 and 20-year-olds in the team.
“There is a good dynamic, everyone gets along in the team, but the guys from abroad or different cities who are up here alone, it’s easy to make relationships. We are almost forced into gelling together and sticking together.
“There’s good relationships in the team and good groups of guys.”