IT was four years ago that Selkirk teenager Tommy Patterson made history by becoming the youngest ever player to start an East of Scotland League match.

The 14-year-old schoolboy was called up by a struggling Gala Fairydean to lead the attacking line at Coldstream.

The match proved to be a watershed moment in the history of the Netherdale club as just a few weeks later the amalgamation with Gala Rovers began to take shape.

And the Home Park 8-0 hammering also gave Patterson a taste of senior of football.

Following a brief spell playing in the amateurs and seasons at Edinburgh age-group teams Tynecastle and Leith, the teenager was lured back to the Borders during the summer by new Vale of Leithen manager Chris Anderson.

And 18-year-old Tommy, who recently left Galashiels Academy, is relishing being back in senior football again.

He told us: “Playing against Coldstream that day was crazy – I had no idea how difficult it was to play against men.

“I’m certainly a lot more grown up now and, although it’s a tough challenge, I feel I’m growing into a Lowland League player.

“It’s a lot faster than what I was playing at Under 19s but playing at this level is making me a better player.”

Patterson was amongst a handful of carefully selected youngsters Anderson signed during the summer to add to his fairly mature squad.

As well as the former Spartans 30-something quartet of Keith McLeod, Danny O’Donnell, Robbie Manson and Kevin Motion, Vale’s squad includes veteran of junior football Ainslie Hunter and former Berwick Rangers defender James Elliot.

Tommy continued: “I really enjoy playing with the experienced players at the club.

“There is professionalism with the senior players that rubs off on the others. The whole Lowland League set up is so much more professional.

“Some of the teams have former Scotland internationals – I was up against Robbie Winters last week at East Kilbride.”

Patterson has made four of his nine appearances this season from the bench.

Despite the lack of full 90 minutes match time, he still believes stepping up to play in Scotland’s fifth tier was the right move.

He added: “Chris (Anderson) is an excellent manager and you learn a lot from him. I know I will get chances as the season goes on so it is up to me to keep working hard and improve as a player.

“I would love to get to a much higher level eventually and I feel playing in the Lowland League for Vale will help me.”