George Oakley ‘raring to go’ at Raith Rovers after tough campaign at Ayr
After missing six months of last season with former club Ayr United due to an unspecified injury which required an operation, newly signed Raith Rovers striker George Oakley’s excitement at the prospect of playing a full season in his new colours is understandably high.
Speaking to Raith TV, 30-year-old forward Oakley – who has previously played under Raith manager Dougie Imrie and assistant Andy Millen at Greenock Morton – was asked if the transfer to Kirkcaldy could help reignite his career after a campaign which saw him fail to score in the William Hill Championship in 13 games for The Honest Men, although he did net seven times in seven cup appearances.
Oakley said: “It's a tough one, because in my first season at Ayr I finished top scorer and was in the team of the season.
"I really enjoyed it as we pushed for the title all the way with Falkirk and Livingston.
"But a lot changes in football quickly.
"I think a lot of people don't understand what happens inside football, they just see it how they want to see it and how they want to look at things.
"But the last half of the season has been tough for myself for many reasons, personal stuff which I’ll keep behind closed doors with. I won't say too much because it's not for me to say sort of thing.
"But I'm just ready to get back going again. I obviously need to get myself back firing.”
Having turned out for a total of five Scottish clubs before joining Raith – he also formerly served Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hamilton Accies and Kilmarnock – Oakley is well versed on what a good stadium Stark’s Park can be for atmospehere.
He added: “It’s amazing. Every time you come here as a player, it's one of the toughest away days on the fixture list. You hate coming here as a player.
"And I think if you've got that already, you’ve already half won the game. All that’s needed is a group of players that will win that other half.
"If we can get good home form – as you guys did when you finished second (in the 2023-2024 season under Ian Murray), you never know what can happen.
"But it's an amazing place with an amazing fanbase. As I said, it's intimidating to be here as a player and it will be nice to be on the other side of that.
"I think any player wants to play in front of fans that are passionate and these fans are.
"If you get the fans on your side, you can hear them, and that's what you want, with the main stand packed out.
"I think I'm raring to go for this season because I'm hoping we can get that packed out, get winning games and pushing up the league all year round.
"Dougie and Andy know me as a player and as a man. And I'm grateful that they trust me and I trust them, so it's nice in that way.
“It’s a win-win for myself.”
When asked if he’d sought the opinions of other players for advice in whether or not to join Raith, Oakley said: “You go around and you do your digging, speaking to former players, boys that I play with now or have played with before.
"And yeah, it was all good.
"So there's nothing I can actually complain about in that way that ever made me think of not coming here.
"It was always a kind of: ‘Well, if players enjoyed it here then I’m signing’.”