Recent signing Ruben Soares Junior is a 21-year-old Portuguese national who has played for a few English non-league sides since arriving in the UK as a 15-year-old. “My Mum was already living in the UK so when I was younger and worked out what I wanted to do I decided to move to London and that is when the journey started. I tried a few scholarships but they were all taken so I went down the non- league route with teams like Grays Athletic and Billericay Town”.
His footballing journey has now brought him North of the border and he is happy with his decision” I’m delighted to be here; I’m settling in and getting to know Scotland. Football is big in Scotland and Queen of the South are a good club playing in the Championship, which is something I wanted. I wanted to be with a professional club where I can train and play for a living, it is something I dreamt of and I’m getting to do that now. So, I can’t think of anything better”.
His deal with Queens is his first professional contract and his first full time club but so far he hasn’t found an issue with the step up “in my mind I always dreamed of this so even although I wasn’t a pro or full time I was always putting in the effort. I was always training to make sure when I got the opportunity, I was ready for it. Its not easy as nothing is easy but I have taken to it. I’ve had the boys to help me out to so I’m getting used to it”.
“I feel that I have a good relationship with the boys and have made some good mates already. As a person, I’d say I’m a very funny person, someone who likes to have a laugh all the time and I feel the boys like that about me so, so far everyone has shown crazy love towards me an appreciation and I’m trying to give back the same thing”.
Although just starting out as a professional, the striker has a clear vision for the future “Anyone in life wants to progress but this season my target is to get into double digits and to make sure that I have a consistent season week in week out. I want to win as many things as possible or get in a good position to get the rewards. That would be a high for me and for my teammates because at the end of the day I want us all to succeed not just one individual”.
He has been with us throughout pre-season, and has started all three friendly matches scoring against Annan Athletic “I would say I’m a strong player, someone who can get goals and someone who will put in the hard work. I have the ability to beat players and I will give everything and anything for the team”.
Being Portuguese is there one man who he looks up to? “He is one of them I don’t attach myself onto one person but Cristian Ronaldo is up there along with Lionel Messi. I can’t compare the two, I have so much respect and look up to them both. I can’t put them head to head, I idolise both and just appreciate them and learn from them and what they have done for football”.
Ruben is now looking forward to getting started and is loving the idea of playing in front of fans again “I’m ready, I’ve been excited all week and spoke to the boys at training today and said how excited I am. I’ve heard that fans will be back in, not the full amount but a good amount so it will be good as it’s a long time since I saw fans. Its something I love about football being able to interact with fans during the game so that we are playing for something not just playing for myself but playing for the fans so I’m really excited and looking forward to tomorrow”..
Ruben will have squad number 49.