Bus Man's Holiday

Feb 24 2008 By Gavin Berry

Working For Dough At Dons Is Labour Of Love For Ex-Baker Kilmarnock V Aberdeen Today, Kick-Off 3pm

DETERMINED Dave Bus has revealed his tough journey to the top in football involved grafting as a baker then in a warehouse while he played in the Dutch Third Division hoping for his big break.

The Aberdeen defender had to pinch himself in midweek as he savoured the atmosphere in Bayern Munich's magnificent Allianz Arena and recalled where he had been just a few years ago.

Bus - a January loan signing for the Dons - was a late developer but his attitude epitomises the type of hard working player Jimmy Calderwood admires.

And there are few in the professional game who appreciate where they are more than the Dutchman. Bus plied his trade at amateurs HSC '21 in Holland's lowest division, while also working part-time, before being plucked from obscurity by De Graafschap. And the stopper became a fans' favourite as he grabbed his big chance by helping them win promotion to the top flight.

Bus said: "Most players are tipped to play professional football from a young age but I wasn't one of them.

"Guys like my Aberdeen team-mate Jeffrey de Visscher were playing at national youth level and starring for Twente Enschede at 17 but at that age I was working as a baker.

"I went to bakery college and worked in a store for five years in my home town of Lichtenvoorde.

"I would have continued but it was physical work with long hours and hard to combine with part-time football.

"Luckily a friend offered me a job in a sports warehouse as a salesman, selling football kits and boots to teams.

"I needed the extra income but I'm proud of where I've come from because I have worked hard. I'm not the biggest talent but can do a job in the team.

"When I was working as a baker and played in the Dutch Third Division I didn't think for one moment I'd be where I am now."

Bus' career was transformed when he moved to De Graafschap and was soon up against superstars in the making like Dirk Kuyt and Mark van Bommel.

He said: "I was hoping someone would take a chance on me but it was not until I was 25 that De Graafschap signed me. In my first season we won promotion and in our first campaign in Eredivisie I was our Player of the Season. I'm proud of that.

"I had come from the third tier in Dutch football so it was a big jump but I played every match and had a really good campaign.

"I played in all the big stadiums - Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord - and it was a great experience facing stars like Kuyt and van Bommel."

Bus penned a six-month loan deal at Pittodrie with the Dons having first option to sign him if he impresses.

And he's doing everything he can to ensure he's a success, including holding his own private video sessions of the Dons in action to find out more about his team and Scottish football.

Bus will be hoping to put that research to good use this afternoon when Caldo'smen travel to Kilmarnock after the midweek Munich clash.

He said: "I want to speed up the settling-in process and that's why I asked for videos of Aberdeen games.

"I just sat in my room and watched the UEFA Cup matches against Copenhagen and Lokomotiv Moscow plus Gretna and Dundee United in the SPL. I want to learn a lot about the team, football in this country and do my best.

"In Holland we love football but in Scotland the passion is stronger. You see families going to the stadium together and getting excited - that's what I love about the Scottish game.

"I have the feeling I've done well but we've conceded a lot of goals - five against Celtic and three to Hibs - which has been hard to take.

"We have to learn from it but overall I've fitted in quite well.

"I hope my physical style can benefit Aberdeen.

"There are a few new guys here and we don't know each other that well so need time to work on our strengths.

"We hope to get better with every game."