Scotland star settles in Gippsland
As winter settles in each year, many community sport players look to rug up. For one Warragul United player winter in Australia is a far cry from what he experienced in his homeland of Scotland.
Robbie Stephen was used to waking up in the morning and heading out into the freezing temperatures for a kick with his mates, not knowing that football would become a major part of his life.
From peeling off the frozen mats that covered the playing surface, to the cold wet running sessions with his teammates, life was different where Stephen called home.
Stephen grew up in the little country village of Blair Atholl, a small community situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.
“I loved growing up in Blair Atholl. It was quiet. I’ve never been a city kid, I’ve always enjoyed the country,” Stephen said.
In his formative years he would find himself outside often, playing football in the grassy knoll behind his school, before returning to the classroom covered in mud, much to the dismay of his teacher.
His love for football wasn’t born from his parents however, it came from another source.
“My parents weren’t that football oriented really, but both my grandads were and loved it, I think it started there. Growing up in Scotland, football is number one and it’s everywhere,” he said.
Stephen began playing competitively at 11years-old, joining his first full size team, but was disappointed that he didn’t get to play much.
“The first time I joined a team, I didn’t actually play a lot since I was the youngest in the under 15s team. It was actually a little bit frustrating really,” he said.
Despite not seeing much game time early in his competitive career, Stephen persevered, not allowing his frustration to get the better of him.
Alongside his school friends, they created their own team in a town called The Star of Atholl. However, by the time Stephen was 13, he was outclassing his opponents and teammates.
“I was probably 13 when I thought I could try and make something out of football. Really, I was probably getting a bit too competitive and I was looking for more of a challenge. I was a bit bigger and quicker for my age at that time than others. It was really fun though, that’s where my passion for the sport really came on,” he said.
His passion for the game also brought his father on board, with his father coaching The Star of Atholl team, but he would never play favourites Stephen said.
“I remember one day, it was raining and cold and dad actually sent me home from training because I was being a bit of a sook, so I had to run the two kilometres home in the wet. It was probably fair enough he sent me home, I really was sooking a bit,” Stephen laughed.
His parents would drive hours each week to help him make training sessions, games and other football activities, becoming a huge influence on his budding career.
After realising he had some potential to take the sport further, Stephen began trials with several teams before playing for the Scotland Schoolboys, a side for the best kids that hadn’t been signed to a professional team yet.
He quickly discovered he wasn’t kicking the ball around with his mates anymore, with the standard of football rising rapidly for the young central defender.
“It was a very different standard of football. I really enjoyed it though. I played with some really good players there and against one guy who is a professional footballer now,” Stephen said. “I was able to play in a tournament in Ireland, and against Charlton and the Wolves too,” he added.
Before long, Stephen was gaining some attention. A Chelsea scout had begun wandering into the matches to watch him play, before speaking to his parents about his future.
“The scout came to a few games and talked with my parents. He said I was now probably the right age to sign with a professional club to help me improve on the things I wasn’t as good at to step up to the next level. I needed to improve my skills to do that,” he said.
He went on a trial with Inverness, a town just over an hour north from his village. Inverness were in the premier league at that time and Stephen was invited to trial with the under 15s. After two training sessions, he signed with the side for the final five games of the year.
After two seasons honing his skills with Inverness, Stephen’s contract with the side wasn’t renewed, but another team was watching.
“Contracts came up and I didn’t have one with Inverness. Thankfully, I signed with Ross County who offered a two-year deal. They were actually the rivals of Inverness,” he said.
Now 17, fresh out of Pitlochry High School, Stephen was on the move to his new home in Dingwall a near two-hour drive from Blair Atholl.
It was a shock to the system. Training every day, looking after yourself and being expected to be a professional at just 17 years of age, but Stephen embraced it.
Things were tracking along nicely, he was two months into a two-year deal, before his career was turned on its head. During a training session, Stephen ruptured his ACL, leaving him with the prospect of a full 12 months out of the game.
“I was out for the year. I was stuck in the gym doing rehab but luckily, if you can call it that, there were two other boys who had done the same thing, so I wasn’t too lonely in the gym in the end,” he said.
Despite the first year of his contract being wiped out, Stephen was determined to impress his Ross County teammates and managers.
“I came back the next year and had a good year. It was the last year of my contract and I’d played 30 under 19 games, 15 reserves and then I was actually called up to the seniors,” he said.
Stephen called this the crowning moment of his career.
Sitting in the corner of the room, thinking he would be warming the bench for the senior side, he heard his name read out.
“The manager read out that I was starting, and I instantly became just so nervous. I remember doing the warmup, but not much else from that match, it was a blur. I was alright when I got out there though I think. We won 2-1, it was definitely the highlight of my career that,” he said.
Although impressing in his second year at Ross County, he was called into the manager’s office and told he wasn’t in the plans for Ross County going forward.
“It was a bit of a kick in the guts. It sucked really. So, I just packed my bags and moved back home. It was the end of the season, so I had a two-month break. I had a trial with another team, but I just wasn’t fit enough or good enough then, I think not getting that contract, my head wasn’t in it,” he said.
Packing up again, he headed further north to play for Brora, working at the golf club behind the bar where he met someone who would change the trajectory of his life forever.
“I met an Aussie girl who was travelling, I had an uncle who was in Australia and always thought I’d come out here at some point,” he said.
Mel had been in Scotland for two years on a working visa, but now, her time was up, and she would be heading home, this time with Stephen alongside her.
At the end of his time at Brora, he decided Australia would be his next adventure and with nothing more than a backpack, he hopped on the flight to Melbourne with Mel.
Settling in Sale when he was just 21, Stephen began working at the greyhound club and playing football with Sale City, before meeting the Warragul United goalkeeper who just happened to live in the same town.
By 2016, Stephen was suiting up for Warragul United, an important addition to the centre defensive line for the squad.
Secretary Paul Sheehan said that when Robbie arrived, he knew they were getting a warrior and a driven leader.
“Since we’ve picked up Robbie, he’s been one of the leaders of our club. He’s a really professional player and he comes to training ready to go, he’s just fitted in beautifully,” Sheehan said.
“It was fantastic to get a role model like him. Playing State 1 level, it’s important to have a blend of youth and experience, a player like Robbie who’s been there and done that, he’s a real enforcer for our side and brings some physicality to the game,” he added.
Stephen, now 29, said that one thing he’s had to adjust to here in Australia was the physicality of the game.
“It’s a lot more physical in Scotland so I had to calm down a bit when I came here. I remember my first game I was told it’s not like Scotland and I ended up being sent off in the 60th minute,” he laughed.
“The club and especially Peter O’Dea have been really encouraging to me. They want to see me finish my career here. There are also a couple of Scottish boys on the hill at the home games, they’re always supporting me too,” he laughed. “It’s a really great club, the activities we get up to as a team are also great, it’s been fantastic,” Stephen said.
Robbie and his wife Mel married in March, just before the coronavirus pandemic and continue to call Sale home with their two boys.
While he has claimed several best and fairest awards during his time at United, for Stephen, finding team success continues to fuel his drive to keep playing.
“The hard thing is we haven’t won too much yet, it’s difficult as a country team when we play against Melbourne teams who throw money around, so we we’re hoping to change that soon,” Stephen said.
Warragul United is hoping to see the State 1 competition begin on July 25, after the season start was delayed due to COVID-19.