I jumped over a wall and ended up in a river. It was just a silly night out that got out of hand
GARY MACKAY-STEVEN BREAKS HIS SILENCE OVER THAT BRIDGE PLUNGE
GARY Mackay Steven last night broke his silence on his dramatic bridge plunge and vowed to put the ‘silly’ incident behind him.
The Aberdeen winger had to be rescued by emergency services after spending 90 minutes in the River Kelvin following a drunken night out in Glasgow with friends.
Mackay-Steven was treated for hypothermia at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after the incident in the early hours of Sunday, August 27.
Speaking about the incident for the first time, the 27-year-old declared it: ‘some experience’. But he insisted he had not feared for his life during the hour and a half he waited to be rescued from the river.
He explained: ‘I had a night out and some drinks were consumed. I jumped over a wall and ended up in the river. The river had a few rapids in it, so it was some experience. It was just a silly night out that got a bit out of hand, nothing more than that.
‘Did I fear for my life? No, I was pretty calm. I knew I would get out eventually. There are just not many places to get out of that river, so I had to get rescued. With being in the water so long I had hypothermia, which was a little dangerous at the time, but I was soon back to normal after it.
‘It was a freak incident, but I am fine now. I have learned from it — it was just silliness that was taken too far and it won’t happen again.’
The former Celtic attacker was all over the front pages afterwards, the event occurring at the start of a two-week international break.
Mackay-Steven had been an unused substitute 24 hours earlier in his side’s 4-3 victory over Partick Thistle at Firhill.
He was later warned by Dons manager Derek McInnes there is no place for a professional footballer being as drunk as he was the night he tumbled into the Kelvin.
But Mackay-Steven did not worry that his antics could cost him his Aberdeen career.
‘Definitely not,’ said Mackay-Steven, whose Aberdeen side are at Motherwell for a Betfred Cup quarter-final tie tonight.
‘The fans and everyone at Aberdeen have been amazing since then and I appreciate that.
‘It was a crazy situation, but everyone is okay and I am fine. Personally, I just want to get back to making headlines on the back pages.’
Mackay-Steven revealed his team-mates have put pictures up around his dressing-room peg to ensure he does not forget his plunge. He insists he does not mind if he is teased by supporters over the incident.
He said: ‘It has been turned into a joke now which is a good thing. A few of the Aberdeen supporters have been hilarious. It has been a joke with them and that is what it was.
‘To me, it is forgotten about — and if fans sing funny songs that is entirely up to them. For me, it is done, it is what it is and I am concentrating on the football.’
In the wake of the incident, McInnes offered his full support to Mackay-Steven, who he says was left embarrassed.
The Dons boss vowed the frightening fall should serve as a reminder to all of his players about their responsibilities.
‘There’s no problem with players relaxing and switching off and there is no better time to switch off than two weeks before a game,’ McInnes said previously. ‘But there is no place for a footballer to be as drunk as he was and then the consequences of what happened.
‘It’s bizarre circumstances but we’re here to support Gary. But it’s also a reminder to him and everyone else of the responsibilities of making sure there is that restraint and discipline at all times. By all means have a drink, but make sure you are always in control of the situation.
‘It could have been far more problematic for him but thankfully he is back here. He’s embarrassed, as you would expect.
‘He feels he’s let people down. But we are here to support him.’
Meanwhile, striker Adam Rooney insists competition for places is nothing new at Pittodrie as he bids to regain his starting place after recovering from injury.
The Irishman was McInnes’ chief poacher last season but has been kicking his heels on the sidelines due to the arrival of former St Johnstone and Sheffield Wednesday star Stevie May, who has scored three goals in his first four appearances.
But the 29-year-old is determined to put pressure on his strike rival and win back his place, saying: ‘Has the arrival of the new boys like Stevie and Nicky Maynard spurred me? Not really because I always try hard in training and games. Nothing will change that.
‘People say that there’s more competition now but we’ve always had two or three strikers here. There’s always competition which pushes the full squad on.
‘I was disappointed to get injured after the second game of the season. That put me out for a few weeks and it was frustrating.
‘But it’s good to be back now getting some games and I’m raring to go. Hopefully, I can get myself back in the team and score some more goals to keep myself in there.
‘There’s big competition for places here now but I’m always confident that if I’m on the pitch I’ll score goals.’