STREETS AHEAD
Dobbie: I learned game on the roads around my Barlanark home playing against Graham Dorrans and his brothers – that grounding has helped me score for so long
HE’S Europe’s most prolific marksman and averaging more goals than the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero and Cristiano Ronaldo.
So what is Stephen Dobbie’s secret?
Well the Queen of the South striker reckons it’s straightforward – he’s one of the last of a dying breed, a street footballer who honed his skills on the mean streets of Barlanark in Glasgow.
Veteran frontman Dobbie has scored an incredible 21 goals in just 13 games this season including three hat-tricks.
His scintillating form returned seven goals in September – a haul that yesterday landed him the Ladbrokes Championship Player of the Month award.
Dobbie 35, says his scoring prowess did not come about by accident but rather through years of dedication and practice on the streets and training pitches.
He reckons his tough and challenging upbringing has served him well throughout his football career.
Dobbie said: “When I was a kid I would be out at 10 in the morning playing football. These days kids can’t do that.
“I was brought up in Barlanark beside Easterhouse and there was a lot of gang fighting.
“Football took up all my time. I guess you could say I am one of the last generation of street footballers. We used to play teams from different areas.
“Graham Dorrans also lived in Barlanark and we would play against him and his brothers’ street team. You just don’t see that any more, do you?
“When I was at Rangers and I was 16 or 17 I would take two poles out and put them in the goal after training. I’d take a bag of balls with me and try to curl them into the bottom corners.
“I tried to work on that technique. I try to do it with the kids at Queens now.
“It’s more important where you put it rather than how hard you hit it. I would go out myself because goalies don’t like extra training!
“I would work from different angles in the box and try to put the ball in the bottom corner. That’s helped my career definitely and I am benefiting from it now.
“The way I play my game is the same as if I was playing out in the streets with my pals all those years ago. So when I see the stats (Europe’s top goalscorers) it’s quite funny.
“It’s bringing good press to the club which is the main thing.”
So if Dobbie’s form is serving the club well how are his Queens team-mates taking it?
Not as well it seems as the striker smiled and said: “Gary Harkins, Mikey Doyle and Andy Stirling have been giving me stick on the WhatsApp group.
“But it’s nice to be talked about in the same breath as strikers I shouldn’t even be mentioned with in the same sentence.
“Although they are playing at a far better level than we are.”
Dobbie makes no secret of his love for the Doonhamers, which explains why he happily makes a 270-mile round trip from his Lytham home to Dumfries.
He said: “I still stay in Lytham. The gaffer has been good with me. I’m helping the reserve team now so I will normally have a Monday off and travel to the reserve game at night.
“Then I’ll train Tuesday and won’t go back down until Thursday morning. If it’s a home game I’ll go back on Friday and then take my kids to the game on the Saturday.
“It’s a two-and-a-half hour trip both ways, a lot of travelling but worth it. You make a few phone calls and an hour has passed so it’s not too bad.
“The hardest thing is being away from the kids and my family. I’ve got two boys – my oldest Jack is eight and Maxwell is about to turn six. When I was playing with Blackpool Jack started school.
“Before I came back I had offers from a few League One teams that weren’t far away. But I came back to Queens because of what happened here the last time.
“I always said I’d come back and play for the club before I retired. Although I don’t believe that’s going to be any time soon.
“If I can get another two seasons after this then I think that will be me done.
“I am happy at Queens and I am playing for a team I love.”
Gary Harkins, Mikey Doyle and Andy Stirling have been giving me stick on WhatsApp STEPHEN DOBBIE