At Christmas we found ourselves top of the league and we thought: ‘What’s going on here?’ Now we’ve picked up result after result and we’re still up there.. It’s been incredible
Stewart doesn’t dare dream about top flight – Lichties boss Dick won’t let him
Scott Stewart can’t even think about it.
If his mind wanders to Ibrox, Celtic Park, Tynecastle or Pittodrie, he quickly has to stop himself from imagining it.
Let alone talking about it. Not least because there will be hell to pay if his gaffer Dick Campbell f inds out that he’s getting ideas above his station.
But it’s tough for any Arbroath player not to dream after Friday night’s win over Championship title favourites Kilmarnock sent them further clear at the top.
That’s what you’re supposed to do as a footballer, right?
And for every part-time player at Gayfield, it’s almost impossible not to wonder what might be achievable this season.
Stewart, son of former Airdrie stalwart Sandy, is a PE teacher at Trinity High School.
But on a matchday he’s one of Campbel l ’s key cogs in the Arbroath engine room and Stewart was named man of the match in that massive win over Killie at Gayfield.
I f the Red Lichties get promoted to the Premiership it will be one of the greatest stories in our game’s long, rich history.
Given their resources, they have no right to be challenging for a place in the top flight.
But they look odds-on to be in the mix come May.
And as much as Stewart & Co. might want to think about playing at the big stadiums, in front of big crowds next season, their manager won’t let them.
Until now, the secret to Arbroath’s success has been as much about their humility as their ability.
Stewart almost has to check himself if he feels he’s in danger of getting carried away.
He told MailSport: “All of a sudden at Christmas time we found ourselves top of the league.
“We were thinking: ‘ What’s going on here?’
“At the start of the season, everyone thought we were just having a wee purple patch.
“But we’ve just picked up result after result and we’re still up there. It’s been incredible.
“Strange things can happen in football. Leicester City won the Premier League and Greece won the Euros.
“But we can’t get ahead of ourselves because things can change so quickly.
“When you start out as a kid, you dream of playing at the highest level.
“When you’re young you think you’ll play in the Premiership.
“But as you get older, you realise you maybe won’t reach that standard.
“This season, I’m pushing myself as much as I can because I’m thinking: ‘ Well, where can my career take me now?’
“Our mantra this season has just been taking every game as it comes. That’s taken us to the top of the league.
“It would be massive to get promoted, especially at a club like Abroath. But there’s still a long way to go before we even start thinking about it.
“Nothing’s been achieved yet. It’d be a huge achievement for us because we feel we’re doing it for the community and everyone at the club.
“But I can’t think about it yet. The gaffer won’t let me, he’ll be cursing me if I do!”
It wouldn’t be a Campbell team i f Arbroath didn’t have togetherness, resilience and an indomitable spirit.
But can you really get to the top of a division that includes Kilmarnock, Hamilton Accies, Inverness Caley Thistle and Dunfermline with that alone?
As much as Stewart is proud of the bond Arbroath have, he reckons their skill has so far largely gone unrecognised.
He said: “When people watch us, the first thing they’ll say is that we work hard and have a good team spirit.
“And don’t get me wrong, it’s a great group of boys who all dig deep for each other.
“The manager has us grafting for the cause. But we’ve also got quality and we’ve shown that this season. When you’re going to Inverness, Killie and Partick Thistle – and picking up results – you need quality.
“Team spirit will only get you so far. The gaffer’s expectation is that we work hard – that’s the basics. We’ve done that.
“But we’ve also got boys with real ability and they’ve shown what they’re capable of.
“The manager has played a massive part in it. He’s brought in a great nucleus of boys and pushed us on.
“He’s got standards. He makes sure we defend as a team but also lets our forward players express themselves.
“His input is massive, in terms of making sure we’re ready for a Saturday. He makes sure we’re not going to slip up.
“He’s different from anyone I’ve worked with. People comment on his style of management but he gets the best out of people.
“Being a part-time team in a full-time league – you need that. He’s getting the best out of the players he’s got.”
When Stewart signed for Arbroath f rom Airdr ie in
2019, he expected to be fighting relegation ever y season.
Even his old man, currently coaching in India as Owen Coyle’s No.2, has been surprised by the Gayfield side’s progress.
If it continues and impossible becomes a reality, the club might have a decision to make.
Do they stay part-time or push the boat out by becoming a full-time Premiership outfit?
Stewart and others with jobs might also have to re- evaluate their careers.
But they’re not thinking about that just yet. The 25-year- old said: “When I signed here I never envisaged us in this position.
“Along with Alloa when they were in the Championship, it was supposed to just be about survival.
“And even this season our main aim was to stay up.
“When I came here I thought that would always be the case, just staying in the league.
“You always hope you might have one of those seasons where you don’t know where it’ll take you. That’s what we’re doing now.
“This season has been great but did we expect it? Probably not. My dad is surprised by how well we’ve done. But everyone is!
“A lot of full-time boys go parttime, get a job and settle down. It’s the security of having a career.
“I’ve a good job as a teacher, which I enjoy. It works perfectly for me, being full-time at school and playing football part-time.
“I haven’t thought beyond what’s happening now. I’m just trying to concentrate on the season and see where it takes us.
“It will be difficult but we’ll try to keep it going. If we get success, it will be because we’ve kept our feet on the ground.”
Dick has us grafting for cause but we’ve got quality too .. team spirit will only get you so far