Yoga sessions were key for Brora Rangers player of season producing some of the best football of his career
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DALE Gillespie says yoga has helped him improve his game which led him to being named players’ player of the year and supporters player of the year at Brora Rangers this season.
The 33-year-old picked up both accolades at the end of the season awards after the final game of the campaign when Brora beat Keith 1–0.
Gillespie, who has been at the club for 10 years, with a season away at Rothes in between, believes he is playing some of the best football of his career.
As well as giving up alcohol, he says practising yoga has helped immensely with his fitness and his performances on the pitch.
“Away from football I am looking after myself better than I used to,” says Gillespie.
“I stopped drinking three years ago and it has a positive impact.
“But I am doing yoga quite a lot now too.
“I do get a bit of stick for doing that, but it certainly hit the right side for me.
“It has helped me physically and I have noticed it has been beneficial for where I got muscle strains which I got previously.
“I try and do yoga sessions three to four times a week. I will do a session during my own time before I go to training as a pre-warm up.
“It helps me keep playing on a Saturday so I am happy to take abuse for it.”
Gillespie says it is an honour to receive both awards from his teammates and the supporters for his performances this season given that he is heading towards the final years of his football career.
“It was a nice surprise to receive both awards,” he said.
“I think I played 49 out of 50 games so I am proud of what I have achieved.
“Jordan Macrae was the top scorer for us this season and usually the player of the year award tends to go to who scores the most goals.”
Brora Rangers won the Highland League Cup after defeating Buckie Thistle 2–1 in the final earlier this month.
But Gillespie says relinquishing their league title by finishing in fourth place is something which hurt everyone at the club.
However, Gillespie says finishing the season on a high by winning the cup can give them confidence to push for the league title next season.
“With the squad we have, we are disappointed with how the league went,” he said.
“We had a bad start to the season by losing two of our first three games and it was an uphill start.
“But we got back into it, but towards the end we went off form again and were maybe short squad wise.
“However, we will look to bounce back next season.”
