PAUL LUNAN (Midfield)
28 year old Paul joined Montrose in July 2011 from junior side Dundee Violet after spending a spell out of the senior game due to work commitments. Lunan was spotted playing for West End Boys in Dundee by then Forfar Athletic youth manager Gordon Wallace. He established himself in the Forfar Athletic first team under Neil Cooper and made his debut in September 2001. A versatile player he can play almost anywhere across the back or in midfield. He was a favourite with the Forfar fans making over 170 appearances scoring twenty goals before moving to Arbroath in 2008. He rejoined Forfar Athletic last summer before his move to Dundee Violet.


In Conversation with Paul Lunan - April 2012

MONTROSE should be much further up the Third Division league table than they are according to Paul Lunan.

Despite excellent performances, results have rarely gone in favour of the Gable Endies, making for a frustrating first season for the midfielder. He said: “It’s been pretty disappointing I’d say. I’d kind of being expecting to get to the playoffs but it’s not happened that way for one reason or another.

“Being totally honest I think we should be 20 points more than what we’ve got. I think a lot of times we have been the better team but individually there have been some weaknesses that definitely need to be sorted out.”

Asked whether he feels Montrose might stand a better chance next season now the team have had a chance to gel he says: “I’d like to think so.”

Although there have not been many highlights to draw from this season, Lunan, like many, says that the Scottish Cup run was one of the better times. He said: “The highlight of the season for me was taking Ayr United to the replay.

“I think a lot of people expected us to get a right doing from them and the way we played down there I think we should have won. They are two leagues above us so to take them to a replay was a real high point for the team.”

On a personal level, Lunan says that injuries and suspensions have been a personal blight on his season. Of the suspensions he said: “I don’t think either of the suspensions was deserved. The last time [against Queen’s Park in February] was a definite booking but not a sending off. Even at the start of the season at Clyde when I got two bookings, with the first one I’d won the ball…that’s what you’re up against.”

However, he adds that he’s not about to list refereeing decisions as one of the reasons Montrose have struggled this season. He said: “You can’t blame it on that, you’ve got to look at yourself and the team.”

Despite what the results say, Montrose have been capable of outplaying any team in the Third Division this season and it is unfortunate that results have not reflected this. However, for Lunan, he thinks that two teams have stood out as the toughest to play against. He said: “Queen’s Park and Alloa have both been good but Alloa have just been that bit better.

“They deserve to have won the league on merit, they’ve consistently been the best so I have no arguments with that.”

Last weekend Montrose lost out 2-1 to Peterhead in what Lunan describes as “one of our best performances this season.” He said: “That sums up our season really. As a team we’ve played well but two individual mistakes in each half cost us. We were the better team by far – as we have been for most of the season.”

Today, Montrose will face Queen’s Park, something which has rarely gone in Montrose’s favour in recent memory. Lunan said: “We have a horrible record against them but you just have to forget about it. You just have to go into it looking to win it like with any other game.”

So what does the future hold for Paul Lunan? The short answer is that it’s uncertain. In as far as staying at Montrose is concerned, he said: “I’ve spoken to the manager but nothing has been finalised and that’s as far as it’s gone just now.”