Cammy McKinley excited for second bite of the SPFL cherry with Edinburgh City

The 25-year-old has put pen to paper with the Citizens following a fantastic year with Lowland League outfit Tranent where he finished the East Lothian side's top scorer with 18.

Cammy McKinley (No.9) finished top scorer with 18 for Tranent last season. Picture: Tommy Lee

And now he plans on tearing up the SPFL as City look to improve on a 10th-place finish, a season that signed off with a 3-1 aggregate pyramid play-off victory over Highland League champions Brora Rangers, a result that preserved their place in Scottish football's fourth tier for 2026/2027.

McKinley revealed the Capital side's manager Michael McIndoe's patience finally paid dividends after previous attempts to land the player's signature failed to materialise.

"The gaffer has come in for me a couple of times, but for one reason or another it just hasn't happened," McKinley told the Evening News. "But I'm delighted to finally get it over the line and keen to get working with him. I know he gets the best out of his players as I know a few in the team who have really kicked on, so I'm buzzing to get going.

"It's a unique brand of football, but he believes in his players. He wants us to go and express ourselves so, for me, being a forward player, it was a no-brainer to come here. It always helps when the manager was an attacking player too, as they can understand it from your perspective.

"I watched the play-off games and could see exactly what the gaffer wants to implement at Meadowbank. And I can absolutely see myself in that system. There is quality in that squad, there's no doubt about it, the likes of Innes Lawson and Jason Jarvis, who are technically gifted players that can also help my game. I want to contribute as much as I can to help the team progress.

"The play-offs should always be the minimum aim for this club and I do think the squad, as it stands, is more than capable of achieving that target."

McKinley had a spell with Stirling Albion during the 2024/2025 season so has some SPFL experience to call upon. However, it was Tranent's Foresters Park, working under the stewardship of Robbie Horn, where he rediscovered his mojo.

"It was great to work with Robbie and everyone at Tranent," he explained. "Having only made 16 appearances for Stirling, which was nothing to write home about, I just wanted to get back playing regularly and scoring goals, and Tranent gave me that last season. I have a smile back on my face again.

"Having had such a good season, it has given me that opportunity to play SPFL football once more, an opportunity you can't tun down. I'm 25 now so I'm at an age where I back myself to go and do well.

"I just want to score as many goals as I can. You've got to have that mindset, so I'm looking at 20 - that's the sort of tally I should be hitting every season. You just need to make sure you are doing the right things, making the right runs, and the chances will definitely come. I just need to make sure I'm taking them when they come around."