The Aberdeenshire Shield is just the beginning for Jonny Smith.
For someone used to winning trophies at Cove Rangers, his move to Inverurie Locos was predicated on bringing silverware to Harlaw Park.
Tonight’s final against Fraserburgh, at the home of his former club, represents a statement of progress for Locos under Andy Low. However, Smith hopes it is a platform for greater things to come and they do not become a one-hit wonder.
“I remember when I signed, I spoke to (vice-chairman) Graeme Hay and (chairman) Mike Macaulay and said I wanted to win something with Inverurie. I imagine that’s what they wanted to hear.
“When I spoke to Graeme on Monday I reminded him – but I’m not going to be here just for the Shield. I’m wanting more and more.
“It’s a big final for the club and great for Locos to go and win something. They more than deserve it. I’ve won it three times with Cove but it would be special with Inverurie; it would set standards for the guys that there’s a winning mentality within the squad. We can go on and achieve great things.”
Smith, who joined from Cove in the summer of 2018, happily talks up the impact of manager Andy Low, who has Locos second in the Highland League after succeeding Neil Cooper in October.
The league title may be a push for this season but Smith sees no reason why victory tonight cannot be the springboard for a serious title challenge in future.
“It sets the bar for winning trophies and hopefully we can go on and push for the league. It’s not in our favour just now but it will give us a boost for the future,” he added.
“When I first joined Cove, they hadn’t won anything for a while. They won one thing and the lads got a taste for it.”
A serious knee injury kept the striker out of action for a year, after sustaining it shortly after his switch to Harlaw Park. The former Aberdeen youngster hopes to have brought his own winning mentality with him to Locos, after four-and-a-half successful years at Cove.
“The lads see me in training and I’m often the angry guy, as I hate losing,” said Smith. “Even playing five-a-side at the end of training, if I’m losing that I’m not enjoying it.
“You’ve got Eric Watson too, who’s a winner, and Chris Angus, who had great experience from his Buckie Thistle days.”
In their opponents at the Balmoral Stadium, Locos know they come up against one of several contenders to succeed Cove as Highland League winners.
“Fraserburgh have been strong for years and with Cove out of the league, it will give everyone a bit more belief they can go on and win it,” added Smith. “They will be right up there at the end of the season, as will Brora. Then you have to look at teams like Buckie and Rothes as well.
“But Andy (Low) has been a breath of fresh air. He’s given players freedom to express themselves; there’s times when you’re surprised that we’re playing four strikers and thinking ‘how are we going to fit them all in the team?’
“Andy knows the guys are good enough to play, so just tells us to get out and do it.”
