Back in the game

Barrowman signs on at‘Lie

Former Premiership striker Andy Barrowman hopes to recapture his love affair with the beautiful game... after turning to the Juniors.

The one- time Birmingham City, Livingston and Inverness Caley Thistle striker has agreed an unlikely switch to Barrhead side Arthurlie after turning his back on football more than two years ago.

From the English Premier League to the new West Region Championship, Barrowman admits the start and end of his career are worlds apart.

But the 33-year-old doesn’t care in the slightest.

For Barrowman it is all about enjoying his football once again after an injury-hit stint at Albion Rovers drove him to retirement and hanging up the boots for good – until now.

“I have been out the game for two and a half years and in all honesty I wasn’t looking for anything – this just came out of the blue”, Barrowman told Express Sport.

“At the time I had just fallen out of love with the game, there is no other way really to describe it.

“I didn’t even consider getting back into playing regularly until this came along. It wasn’t something on my agenda. But I have been enjoying it and the players and teams are really at a good standard and I was happy to sign when the offer came.

“I have been friendly with the management team for a few years and when they got the Arthurlie job in the summer they asked me if I would be interested.

“I came in and did pre-season, played a couple of games, scored a couple of goals and I got that buzz back. I wasn’t too sure what to expect but I have really enjoyed it and for me it is all about actually enjoying my football again.

“I know some people will be surprised that I’m in the Juniors – I must admit that even I was surprised that I was back playing.

“It’s been a bit of an eye-opener, especially some of the grounds and dressing rooms. But it’s all for the love of the game as they say and I am really looking forward to getting started.”

Although it has been two years since he last kicked a competitive ball, Barrowman admits it already feels like he has never been away.

However, he says it remains clear as day the moment that he realised that it was time to call it a day with his professional career.

He said: “I was at Albion Rovers and I kept getting niggly little injuries and was growing more and more frustrated and just wasn’t enjoying it.

“We just missed out on the playoffs so it wasn’t like we were having a bad season or anything like that. But I remember a game against Peterhead and we were winning, but I just kept asking the referee how long was left to go.

“I just wasn’t enjoying it anymore and couldn’t wait for full-time.

“I had always prided myself on being a good professional but I wasn’t doing myself any justice.

“I went in to talk to the manager, who was Darren Young at the time, and just told him how I felt and that I wanted to retire. To be fair to him he was supportive and I think he understood where I was coming from.”

Now as Arthurlie kick- off life in the Championship this afternoon, Barrowman insists that the only goal is promotion.

A torrid year saw the Barrhead side relegated from the top flight for the first time in over a decade and this summer has served as a purge of the former management team and players that featured last season.

Life in the second tier starts with a home clash against St Roch’s at Dunterlie with new gaffer Duncan Sinclair at the helm.

And Barrowman believes everything is geared towards glory come the end of the campaign.

Barrowman said: “For me, this season is just about enjoying my football and hopefully scoring a few goals as well.

“But it is a big season for Arthurlie and there has been some turnaround in players over the course of the past couple of months.

“I know when the management team came in they had literally just four players.

“But the manager has managed to build a squad.”