I owe it all to the boss who had faith in me
SAYS STUART FINDLAY
PLATITUDES from players to managers are a commonplace part of football’s public utterances, but when Stuart Findlay speaks of owing Steve Clarke everything his words are delivered with sincerity and force. A place in history is the latest debt accrued. Picked by Clarke for his full Scotland debut, Findlay headed home a corner kick in Sunday’s 6-0 rout of no-hopers San Marino. By doing so, he became the first Kilmarnock player to score for the national side in 50 years. Rugby Park was where Findlay first worked with Clarke. He was one of the main beneficiaries of the extraordinary turnaround enforced by the 56-year-old during a 19-month tenure that took the club from relegation contenders to third in the Premiership. Life has become tougher for Clarke since he answered the call from Scotland. The victory against San Marino was just his second in six games, with heavy defeats to Belgium and Russia damaging confidence ahead of the Euro 2020 play-offs in March. Findlay, however, has no doubt about Clarke’s suitability for the role. Nor just how much he has been improved as a player by his influence. ‘I basically owe my career to Steve Clarke over the past couple of years,’ insisted the centre-back. ‘From being in and out of a struggling Kilmarnock side to being one of the main players in a team which comes third in the league. ‘There is only one guy I can thank for that. He put his trust in me, gave me the deal I got at Kilmarnock and now he’s brought me into the Scotland squad. I owe him a lot and, hopefully, I have repaid him.
‘My relationship with him is key. Thankfully he put his trust in me.
‘I know people will say it’s San Marino but you have to go out and put in a professional performance and, hopefully, I did that.’
Tommy McLean had been the last Kilmarnock player to net for the national side, scoring in a 5-3 win over Wales in Wrexham in 1969.
‘I had no idea I was the first Killie player to score for Scotland for 50 years,’ grinned Findlay.
‘The goal was a bonus. The fact that I was in the team means that I had done enough in training to earn my place.
‘That’s the proudest thing for me — to show that I can be in contention at this level and, hopefully, I’ll do that by putting in good performances.
‘To score a goal at Hampden Park is what everyone dreams about. It was a really special moment for me.
‘Obviously I’m delighted — and also from a team point of view because hopefully we can move on from the Russia disappointment. We can now look forward to the final two qualifiers and try to build some momentum.’
Findlay was first called up to the Scotland squad by Alex McLeish in March, after injuries hit his selections for the opening two Euro 2020 qualifiers. The defender believes he owes that inclusion to the media work of James McFadden, who was then a national team coach.
‘I was thinking that seven months ago I had never been involved in the Scotland set-up in my life,’ reflected Findlay.
‘We were playing a game away from home against St Mirren on a Monday night and James McFadden was doing the commentary and I managed to get a late call-up to the squad.
‘You think about that and it shows how quickly football can turn. With that, I know how quickly it could turn back to not being involved.
‘But this is a moment I have dreamt of and I now want to kick on. I want to make sure I am not a flash in the pan and do everything in my power to stay at the level I’m at.’