Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Brave decision by goalie to take flight
I’ve been involved in a few crazy situations in my time in football but seeing a ylayer quit and fly home thousands of miles because he was so disayyointed with his own yerformance is a first.
That’s what happened at Montrose on Saturday when our Canadian goalie Lucas Birnstingl quit after losing a goal to his opposite number and then picking up a red card as we lost the Angus derby to Arbroath.
First thing I should say is, while his reaction was a bit over the top, I respect his bravery.
After the game, Lucas didn’t try to make any excuses and apologised in front of all the players for the bad goal he lost and going off early.
He then came to see the gaffer George Shields and I to say he was going to chuck it and go home to Canada because he felt he’d let us down so badly.
At that point we told him not to be daft. He’d had a bad day and would feel rotten for a few days but we said he’d get over it and to remember he was a decent keeper.
It was only later in the evening that he sent George a text to say he’d booked a flight and was flying out first thing Sunday morning.
We’re disappointed for him more than anyone else because he’s a nice lad who was giving the professional game his best shot. In the end, I think Saturday was maybe the final straw.
He didn’t have a job outside football and was having to live off his wage from us. I can tell you that’s not a fortune.
He was also travelling through from his base near Airdrie to train and often just sit on the bench and, although he was only with us for a short time, while he was at Montrose he worked very hard at his game.
Suffice to say the manner of his departure means we won’t forget him in a hurry.
But I will say again I have great admiration for him, however extreme his personal solution might have been.
He accepted responsibility and took what he felt was the necessary action to make amends. I wish there were more like him.
Of course, for us, the bottom line is we’re looking for a keeper this Saturday because our regular No 1 Stuart McKenzie is still suspended. Hopefully, whoever plays can manage the whole 90 minutes!