Charity Work and Final Thoughts

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I used to get. spepeak for you so. What was that when I was on eighteen quite a week. eighteen pounds? eighteen pounds so that's like I think we know we can't live off that. you get twenty percent of it M spensers gu guy a you can tell I'm in a lot They coach you that you h then They still gave you the love for the game because it can be quite disappointing. Beuse most dayss were got the not but, I got it for hbs when I was fifteen. It becomes disappointing. but if you get these great coaches and it make you love it then they understand. How had put the bid in and it been accepted? How much was it A two point eight five million and then the chairman accepted it and I remember seeing him in training that day, Stehven Thompson And he was, Oh, you're going to homell? And I like, Oh, I'm not sure. And he was said, No, you're going. And the world, come on. An tickets? No. And for you got. after nine years you are gonna to be leaving Liverpool Did it Favor per Today we are going to be interviewing Great Ernie Robertston about who' best coach was, who helped him when he needed the help most Is somebody again? I've got a lot of love for a lot of time for. I'm really looking forward to this one like myself, he had a lot of problems when he was younger with his height cause a lot of problems you're too small or you too small It feels like a really bad excuse for this for not giving people a chance, especially when you see what he's goingone to achieve Getting released from Celtic, going to Queens Park, you know, semi proro, working at MNS, wanting to maybe go back to university in that time when he hadn't signed proro yet and the decisions he had to make and what he was going through at the time of that tweet. rememember that tweet he done about L' not lifeife's not fun because he ain't got no money or something So you want to talk about those times because he wants to play football, he wants to be a footballer, but he's running out of time Good bye the Magan L You lot of similarities between yourself,n't it? I think we've got a lot of the same values, the way he speaks and things like that and the things he stands up for are a lot of things that you know I kind of believe in as well. And yeah, from a career perspective in terms of our journeys are probably similar. The journey to the top was never easy, but you know we obviously both kind of got there In the end. A lot of people it doesn't They don't come back from it. So this is what I want to speak to them about is why didd you keep going? What kept you going, especially when you went to semi proro with Queen's Ple, you know When did it start happening where you thought to yourself, Wow, it's starting to happen for me. I feel like people are noticing me. When you get let go as a kid, the last thing you're thinking about is winning the Champions League, one of the greatest football teams in the world with Liverpool And leading your country out in the World Cup. The journey, you don't know you're on the journey until you get to the success. That's the thing about it. I' asking about Trent as well and both of them being so successful at Liverpool together as friends like they say and then Trent announcing that he's going to leave and how he dealt with that from a friends point of view, but as a football as well knowing that You know what? this is probably a great move for him. Well that's another thing I want to ask him in respect of Liverpool and the decision that he's going to leave because obviously we've got all the stories about him going to top them. know and he's obviously on the outside of everything soays for well. You know what I mean? maybe it's time after nine years to move on and how difficult that was You always looking to? Yeah. I like the feel of it. I like the smoothness especially. specially when I do my head, I shve my head for special occasions. And then when you shave it it just feels so nice. the World Cup E everyverybody loves seeing Scotland there. You know they're going to bring a lot of energy Scotland because no one fances him, no one fancces him to do anything. So to see Scotland there, see him leading Scotland out again is going to be a massive for him in respects of his career. He's eleven caps off of Kennedy Dallge. That's amazing. I'm one of these people that don't like looking too far ahead, so I've tried to kind of put it out my mind as difficult as that's been Yeah I can't wait to just get over there and We need to find a hairdresser for starters over there, I think. Some of the boys take it a lot more seriously than what I do. I wouldn't name any names, but yeah, like a few of them take it the whole new level, but I think we all want to look good and especially on the biggest stage you always want to You always want to look your best. Well I ask him about his charity as well. You know, he does a lot of work for charity in Glasgow and you know, inspires people. and once you inspire people, then you arere a role model. Looks you good for a first time, doesn't it? Dar Obviously he's a great player. One of those people when you speak to looks he straight in the eye tell you you know that you're getting a pure truth from him. It's an emotional time. Obviously the contract's kind of comeing to an end and I was a boy when I first cameame, I'm now leaving a man. and it's been in nine incredible years, a club that means so much to me. I don't think I could have written down a much better story to be honest with you, so. I will leave with a lot of pride and have big smile on my face when I look back on this time. The Liverpool fans always show you a lot of love when you bump into them, you not can speak highly up and off of them. You know, they're a fantastic fan base. I think you'll probably go down as easily one of the greatest left backs in the Premier League easily Top three. I'm gonna go top three. I'd love to play the Unite, especially if I was putting balls into the box, I what fantastic play he was. Fantastic striker. Maybe I'll be the Unite te. I'll be the presenter. wonder who'll beomeing to meet me I remember speaking to Shheron Liner about it telling them about Nah Hol got this left back. He's brilliant. You doing it and they were say, ye, right. And then bam, they had to admit as well that I was right that Andy Robinson was coming. He was like Panos is coming He I was was talking about you. I was just saying he's like fanos, he's coming and let you comort. How are you good? How you doing? I'm all good, thank you you. Well brokch. Pase. How would do you know, E? Oh thirty two. You look great. M my sense. How's it going? How's the training goinground everything? Oh good yeah Oh good, a couple weeks left now, so not too bad. Yeah. You've announced that, you you're going finish at the end of the season. What's it been like? What's the last few weeks been like and what are you hoping for it to end like? Yeah, it's been I think it's been emotional in a good way in terms of like I've been able to reflect, Do I mean, I think as football as you all know from your career, like you sometimes don't reflect on things that you n should reflect on, Do I mean And I think these last couple of weeks has gave me time to reflect on like Does it make you think what am I doing or should I do? Do it make you feel like God have I announced that too quick? No, I think I think for me, the thing the thing that was king me right was lying to people, especially especially in the training ground. I mean, like realistically I knew from February that it was going to be the end Was that because is it because you're not playing or you don't see that I think I think it was a mixture of things really. I think obviously, you know,, you know, the club didn't offer anything, but it was more because what we wanted didn't quite align. I mean, I think that happens. I mean I'm a player that still wants to play and I want to play a game. I've never hid away from that and you know, I think the club that's clear that that's not going to happen. But I also think the club have to move on at a certain time and Obviously Mo's leaving as well and you know, all leaders have to come to an end. I mean I think that's probably the time we're at. I mean, we're probably the kind of last wave of it. We al lost Trent last season. We've lost Hendo Millie. So All these things, you know, people do move on. I've been here for nine years. mean, we've had an incredible time here and I just think The time's probably right for everyone to just go to what It's been an unbelieable nine years and let's diss next The success That's what to say about the success because obviously, u Jurgen was amazing You know, people saying things like, yeah, well Slot's coming in and's taking his team over and That's why he's won it but. What's happened this season and why it seems to have gone so the rails of what you're used to what Liverpool fans are used to? I think it's like I think it's a mixture of things. I think what happened in the summer was, you know, I think nobody can prepare for what we had to what we had to go through. You know, after what A the highs of the end of last season you know, the first time me seeing the lads after the trophy day is, we' on a plane on the way to one of our mate's funerals. And I think And I'm not saying I don't want this being used as an excuse, but for the lads, it's been You know, it's been tough It's been tough. It has been tough and and we can't hide away from that, you know, we're only human beings at the end of the day and u I think for the world of football it it was tough enough, but for us that is one of our base mates.. I don't think people understand the enormity of the emotional strain that as on a team when a player even when he's unwell when you you heard that one of his familyil' not well, but let alone One of your teammates goes so. I could totally empathize with everybody who was in the squad at the time you know, but like yeah, that must have been really tough. It was tough and obviously from that point of view, we then had a disrupt preseason, you know, with certain things we had to do and certain things we had to be respectful towards in terms of how we were dealing with it in terms of grief. we couldn't like the manager and the sport scientist, and they couldn't push us too hard too early because you know of what we were going through and they were going through the exact same. and But then the season gets going and you then have to become a footballer and that's part of our lives. We all go through a grief off the pitch. I mean people have lost family members and things and probably played the next day So I think then we get off to the season to a good start. I think five games, five wins but we weren't playing well. I mean, it was probably a bit of a folkks possession I would say But we knew our Our then our performances had to lift and for whatever reason we've just not been consistent this season. Now we had a lot of change. We had obviously we've probably lost seven or eight players in this summer We brought in five or six, which takes time to jail, you all know that. These lads had to take time to settle. We had to get used to them, they had to get used to us and so on. You know, for us and especially for the experience I' have been there it's been a disappointment. There's no hiding away from that. It's from not what we've expected, you know, when from the high of last season we wanted them to go and push on and we've not done that and we all have to look at ourselves for that. and it's been It's been a disappointing season, there's no baring it up, I mean we expected a lot more from this season and it's been frustraighting for different reasons. but has been frustrating, but And you know We'll see what the future holds for Liverpool. you know, I think now we've had this season, it's important that we get Champions League football. That's a must. And I hope that then next season they can you know rebuild and you know, hopefully then the performance levels can lift again and Hopefully they can be back up competing, because that's where they have to be.s abbsolutely Liverpool. Well we're here with V like Gilletes Who's your best coach So we'd like to ask you, my friend He's been your best gu. I know you've had some really good coaches, but who's been country. that you could say I'll probably put him involved in that. I've had so many. I've been so lucky. you know, I even go back to my early days of because you'll know as well, you need managers to give you a chance. You know what I mean? And and's the that's the biggest thing for me. You need managers to go in be honest can I be honest with that L, you say that I feel that if I didn't have Steve Kopper when I came in eighty five straight off the street with a withith me is how raw I was and how just unprofessional I was. If I had a manager with a different kind of attitude And again, sometimes I look back now and it's easy to look back now. And I was so fortunate to have him at that time. I don't think try to manage it with a different art. outlook to the kind of person I was, the gold tooth The str the swagger and everything that came with me If I thinkt have someone like Steve Copper, I think it doesn't happen like it happenens. Probably when I was you know younger, I was, you know, at Queen's Park and Dundy United, I was fortunate that we then the Unitedpace, we had a young team in somehere Jackie Mount manager as a manager, but I would say the two the two main ones that made me grow up quickly was probably Steve Bruce and Gordon Strachon because I had them hand in hand Add them both. Right. Obviously Scotland how And both of them would help me as a young player, but also you, wouldn't let the younger lads step out of line and you know things like that. But both of them gave me a massive opportunity. Steve Bruce, I probably wasn't there they play in the Premer League gonna let me play. Seriously. I mean, I wouldn't I was only one year pro at that point. Do I mean? And then we go to the QPR game away and he throws me in I mean So you're not expecting to play that are you? No also the day before we'd done tactics and Lee Menr was playing left back. He was meant playing left back and he got injured in training But the Gaffer never really never named his team until the kind of day of the game. So I've kind of went in the meeting, not really thinking anything of it. I'd only signed two weeks before You put the team up and I'm like, you know, kind of squint my eyes to see, you know, is that my name? And I just remember I texted my dad when I came out the meeting and all I said was a relative too kind of sweay on this. Yeah I texted my dad just saying, oh shit, that was it, that's all I said, right? So my dad then just never took anything from it, but he then tells the story after the game went I turned your mum away I'm guessing he's playing then if he's saying that. But how did you feel? Did you feel ready ang or? I felt look don'tember. I felt nervous. you always feel nervous, but I think for me like you then I looked at we had such a good bunch of lads there, you know, we had so many experienced lads and I think the't I think we played a back five that day, but we had like the people like Paul McShane and James Chester these lads that could really help you and we had Robert Snodgrass in front of me. and I just felt at home and I just thought Jim whats let's just go for it. and I think we won one now, James Chester scored. we kept the clean sheet. I think I cleared one off the line So yeah, it was it was pretty perfect But without these people without giving a chance I mean, obviously in Gordon gave a chance of Scotland gave me my first my first c I first called up And without these people, your career doesn't go on doesn't go on to be. But then obviously the big one for me was Clop, Clop took me from there ear to there He took me to then to be in the conversation of being potentially the world with best let my at at time and things like that. And I think I said the best top free no problem. Yeah And I don't think I would ever got to that level without him because he was like day to day, was you know, he was just on at me and traing all the time He was like a father figure every single day in training. I mean he just kind of took Bfers kind of under his wing and just tried to get the best out Bfers and I think then that partnership just flourished and yeah, we've got a lot to be grateful for. It's what we' been waiting for. Be is Gorden stuck in here. S we unleashed Gorden Unleash ginger genius Yeah. you? Well we used to do TV together. We used to do punitry together. Sent a lot of time with Stacks.ood ye he's quite yeah. You know what? he's one of those that makes me feel kind because he kind of looks at you and he doesn't take any foolishness if you're talking bollocks You know what I mean? And so it's funny you're sitting with someone like Gordon when you're doing punitry And he say something doesn't over be off, it pulled you straight up and that is why, you know what I mean? I love people like Strax. As we're going to go into it though, because I want to hear about your early days. Because he was a manager when you was when you you were the yourself, I can't blame him for l No, no, no, no I actually actually try my best. I He actually left before you I think you might look before you say But like, yeah, it's an interesting story what you had which I'm really looking forward to speaking about because I always talk about myself Hey How you doing Blondie? Look, how you done? You' doing blondie, okay Obviously you couldn't get you got again clock. Clock was busy, I think. Every good. By good. looks Andy you arere you good?oo team. team C su for straps, please. We were just talking about, obviously you gave him this opportunity in which Scotland. You left Selth obviously before they they were They released him so itn It's not like was I wasn't giving you the blame for that. I' take a blame for a few things, but not that. No. Did you know that he was in there at that stage? What was going? no idea who Yeah. I'd been too young winner. Yeah. I was fifteen when I got Lego, so I don't think I like that's on the radar from the firstity manager at that time. No. No, no. There's plenty of things going on there Slav and Br of Slav, I'll take my blame for that. An thing I was understand I gave. Getting beat with Clyde, I'll take my blame for that. Yeah Yeahah, but once you see what he went on to even when he went to Dundee, obviously account for Queensbark, Dundee Was you surprised once you heard that they'd let him go in You got it right. he doesn't know you' play for Dundye. It was Dundyee United sorry, you've It's like saying Sheield. It's like saying Sheffield. and not saying Sheffield United it's like Sheffie, Wendy. so sorry, Dundee United. Yes. So did you I was at Dundyee as a kid, if that was any good, you need to got it right? Yeah betweenetween the two yes. you got one. Yeah it's fun. Dundee it's always confuseding with Dundeess but like When you realize they let him go and he's gone W you have been surprised with that abstract? No, firstirst of all, Andy was an unknown quantity to me when I first seen I first seen Andy play for Dundee United at P ex Sistle first game of the season I was Ifraid and eight? Fid. Arayid and eight and I think Icause Son was making one of his debuts as a pundit at the time. I remember that. They were a couple of things that you rem talking some Balls. It launched a couple of careers that night. I was doing the punditry that day and I remember watching the game. It wasn't a great game. And every time I went to Andy, because the game was kind of pedestrian and everything it kind of changed. just the dynamics of the game changed. And I thought, Oh, he's interesting, isn't that feella looked about, wondered who he was, because never seen. They just come from nowhere It's Queen's Park. Andy had been before It's a good grounding actually Queen Park. L good people. So that was the initial Yeah and then kept an eye and then got the Scotland gig and I think you're right, you were under twenty one Andy and we were playing on eleven v eleven, but we're short of players. I sit under twenty. a couple hs. Could you send that? because We need to have a eleven be eleven. By the way, it was us that we hadn't played. So the Twit ones had played the night before and it was the subs So I was on the bench for the twenty ones and Yeah was well Jesus Robes I'm thinking. need to Stock a bit of late Mike who played that night. It would have been Clark Robertson, I think. He must be thinking himself. What did that do wrong? That the Svers get our game before me So yeah, when Iy come up and then we played the game, they're always high intensity games. we made it that way. and I remember you went up there as well. Sorry, You knowic'ed there in that game as well. Right away. So when the booy comes to it and it just there's something happening going on there and he went in the touchline he was working, I don't know would Barry Barnon play me or something like that He went it out to a couple of times and chipped the ball in, but we didn't have much height in the team. I think Griff was there or something like that. So I said I said Next time you go in there son, think about the edge of the eighteen yard line. cut it back to there off he goes again and he cuts it back to whether it's a goal or not, something happened So at that time I knew there was enthusiasm, but there was intellect there at the same time. Right. We a player that could pick something up right away. Thank you very much. That was very kind to because I was one the ideas at that time. Well done. So at that point I knew not only was a good player but an intellect and people forget to be a top player You have to have intellect. You we will get a bad gig of every football player's thick other far from it. You need any sort of business, you need intellect to pick up the information you passed on. you add that to your ability and then you grow and grow as a player. So we kn at that point were somebody who had an energy intellect And we always look at without them after that My bestest Coach, Brought to you by Gillen obviously mention Queens Park. So you went from so did you go to Queens Park? Yes straight to Queens Park. So, you know, obviously being let go, you know, are you thinking, well, what now what's happening? Because it's semi proro as well, isn't it? Yeah, so it's difficult. like I think when you get like what like fifteen, it's difficult because you're not in a position to make the decisions. Do I mean? like' only a kid and you know, I always kind of failted that. but When Queenspark first called me, I wasn't Like I was obviously at Celtic could you know, talk to biggest clubs and year then getting a phone call from, you know, leag to I'm thinking. I went because I didn't really know about the obviously we know now that Queens Park are so well known for their youth accademy or like that. So it's like I went there for a week during the summer and I just fell in love with the coaches And I fell in love with the training and I just thought, you you know what I can see myself here. And in the back of my mind then I thought, Do I mean, if I do in the next couple of years, maybe that's my way into first team football. I Be that was always the aim for me to try and get as quickly as I could to the first team football. So I just went there and to be honest, my first season at Greenpark wasn't much better, Do I mean I was in that year that was when I'd done all my growing. I'd done a lot of growing and I'd done a lot of matured. did you have a lot of problem with the size? I think all three of us had a problem with size when we were young. I used to get a lot speak for you so. I got a lot of that the to the point where stke. I actually used it it was the excuse for I could use when I didn't make the trials Did you get that size, yeah. Yeah, becausecause obviously was at that point, I used to play center m, but I could also play left back. But the size was a problem because in Scotland, I don't know if it's still the same, but when you were out under fifteen s you then went straight under seventeen. So you' then all of a sudden playing two two g a, Which at that time I probably wasn't ready to do I mean So that's why then when you go into the lower leagues they have an under sixteen as well as it. So it's not it's just a one year gap. Yes. So that's why Queen'spark was probably perfect as well. But the first season wasn't great and then the second season then that's when I really started kicking on and you know probably took over certain people that were above me and then that next season was in the first. So when was the times that I read about stuff with you with You're thinking about going back to university, working at MNS when was that? what was that stage? Was that the same kind of time? That was the same time, at Queens Park I was what was it on? I was on eighteen quQad a wee. eighteen pound eighteen pounds. so that's like I think we know we can't live off that. that's for sure. then That wasn't where the tweet came. You get twenty percent off of it mark spenses. that' you can lam a lot But yeah, obviously I had to work. And then in that year I was very fortunate that coming out of school, in that year kind of my mum and dad gave me the, you know, okay, let's try and make it work. let's try and get in the first team and make it, try and make it pro. And if I didn't make it that year, I think, then I would have had to look to college and things like that. So that's where he's looking Yeah, because even I mean, even when I was in the first team at Queen's Park, I applied for college and things like that to do sports coaching and things like that. I think that was the January time. but luckily at that time, Part at Cristle had kind of got because Jack and McMary still a manager there. they'd got in touch, but it just couldn't get done in the January. So I kind of knew that come in the summertime I should have full time options. and so that's why I was quite confident that at least I'd get a crack at full time football. So then so once you're and a family said right So then you kicked on. so what's happening now at Queenspark? You getting So this when's Dundee come? When's Dundee United come? canan I say something follow when I was listening to speaking here, you say something about when you went to Queens Park that you lo working with the coaches, they made you love the game again because there was a disappointment after you game. The coaches that you had then they still gave you the love for the game because it can be quite disappointing because most of us were not by I got it for Hibbs when I was fifteen. It becomes disappointing. But if you get these great coaches and they don't have to be technically brilliant at that age but make you love it and they understand that when you' getting coached when they're doing it for me know themselves. Yeah There's too many young coaches and aademists doing it for themselves to be young merinos And tactics and this and all the estate and the sort of boot, but someed makes you that's what you need at academy level, which' made you because that's a crucial point in the game for your career because you might have lost it at that point, but bumping at the people who make you love the game at that point' crucial. What say because I look back at like that time of how many players that fell out the game at that point I mean because you can go either one or two ways. when you go to Queenspark, you can either try and then progress again or you can then go, you know and go down, I mean And I know a lot of people that I played with at that time that just fell out in love with the game. moreore importantly and just kind of you know then not played and got normal jobs and find that that which is which is fine. But the thing is like you said, I got peopleople that made me fall in love with the game more and it made me want it more and made me even more hungry. And I think if I didn't have that, I probably would have struggled big time, Join. So you know that resilience, that drive and that character you've got, where does that come from? Is it just pure brave heart business? People say that brave heart that deep drive that you've got even with the disappointment of getting released before and you're going to your semirone and you're kicking on again. Where's that that And I remember watching you one time It was anfield as well where you chase the whole rememember that one? You chas the whole back for. It's something I used to love doing. I used to finish it off by trying to clatter the left or the right back. and you ch you did that. I did it Yeah. did that. And it's something that you' will kept awayig for you when it that move. But thing instact is that when I saw it and it was a time in the game where it kind of dropped Did you recognize that whereere did that person come from, that drive and that determination I think that was when when I went on to pitch, I just tried to enjoy it as much as I could and I always tried to get the two things I've done was I tried to enjoy it as much as I could and I tried to give one hundred percent. and that's all I could be in control of, whether I've done a couple of bad passes, which I'm sure the goaf will remember a few of them, but you know or if I didn't have a good game out it as long as I'm still one hundred percent working hard, that was Even when I was younger, I think you know, you'll de were a lot of more young players than me now but some people look too far ahead as well now I mean they look at it right, okay at fifteen at Qeens Park, I need to be, you know, back in the SPL at eighteen. I never looked too far ahead and even when I came to Liverpool, it was one thing I never done. I never looked too far It' a great philosophy just donon't go too far a moment stay there because There's so many people I know, players, coaches who want that's where I want to play. That's where I want to go. And today's more than a kid. I want a car, I want a house. I want this. I want that. I want a wag. Really? So anyway, but just live for that moment and do it know what Andy' is saying is whatever you do that day, do the best you at Billy And you never planned I would up mind it play there. It was just and this is one I've got again, I know people and I knew right away this was a good kid who had humility. With humility means you always want to get better. If you likeack humility, that means you think you're good. Right. And So Andy's always had this evenven the last time he played it there, he has this humility of I must be my best. I must be a good teammate. I must try and improve. He had that as a kid. So I knew right away that he had that. John McGins the same. So soon as you meet them within Two days you know that they've got it they've got to improve. So I like the idea of trying to improve every day and you end up It's a wonderful journey then. D We got ex it. Thatt it the future looks like. Be people when they go for a target and they don't get there, they think of themselves a failure. Yeah My bestest cooach, brought to you by Gillay W Dundee United, how many games did you play in that first season when you broke through and you started to feel to yourself, wow, it's happening. I could feel it. wasas there a time where you feel like it's happening? Be obviously I was only at Dundy United for one year. Yeah. I think in January, Roberta Martinez tried to sign me forever he came up and watched to me. story could have been very different. I' been s. I't have been sat in this happy And that never happened. and then in the summer I knew I would have options. but I wasn't ready to leave Dunday United. I just felt as if like how you doing? I'd have been nineteen, but I'd only had one year as a pro. so also I think Scottish people as well, they kind of like we fear the Preier League a little bit. I mean like young players are like, o well, I'll never get to the Preer League was like when you so I was like You know, am I ready to go down? shouldhould I maybe just do another season here and things like that? But yeah, I had the twenty minute call with Ste Bruce and that was me convinced yeah. So how did that call go? I remember I was driving down to Glasgow to I was just coming down to see my parents and obviously the Hull had put the bid in And it had been accepted. How much was it? two point eight five million Wow. And the chairman accepted it. and I remember seeing him in training that day, Stephen Thompson. and he was, Oh, you're going to homell. I was like, Oh, I'm not sure and And he was like, No, you're going. they've accepted the money. But then I went down and I met the agents and they were like, Oh look Steris wants to call you And I had about fifteen to twenty minutes on the call with him and after that, I walked out of the office and I said to an agent, comeome on, let's go down the h and we went down that night. Straty was you managing Scotland at that time? Yeah. was it Dund Donet? We gi him his debut in March. W it Poland? Who was it Poland and did Nigeria in the summer? rememember it first was well there P Poland What was it like getting the call up Unbelievable. it was obviously so in the October November time, I went in and trained obviously in the eleven v eleven, but I was still with the twenty ones eer. But I think the minds had spoke well of me in a press conference and time so I thought, okay, maybe But then the March comes and I knew it was friendlies and yeah, I remember getting the call up and I thought Kind of went to Poland did not expecting much. and I remember you I remember you came up to me about I think I came on at sixty you came up to me at fifty five and he just said, you better go on and just play the way you play because you didn't want me. You said to me, donon't start going backwards and forwards. I want you to. and I think'. And then he went crazy. Be the first ball went Church it was a squared pass And then normays you make your debut, trying sae sa try to be sae. No he never He just hit his feet fifteen yards I went chasing after the ball. And I went, I'm a good coach meer.' dicount. So that's where it started and it just snowballed for there. And then you get to know them Yeah. And we the problems gotten previous, but problems with the behavior of some of the players and the standards. And They're going to the World Cup now, but it starts with people like Andy and John McGin setting that standard of everybody being welcome in that group and making sure. but also they put the standards at training as well, the way they train the way they look after themselves. and everybody's welcome. So yeah, it was not was the beginning of players, but it was a beginner of kind of ethos at Scotland when you join this this is what you do Yeah Because these guys literally pay for nothing. They don't get anything to play for Scot, only if you qualify for the World Cup, which was never got happened under me, but so they've play for nothing. You know, they're playing for nothing. you leave your family for two weeks and go somewhere and get booeda and sixty thousand people water ri your head off and come back and say, how did it go? Well I got booed. How much you get pid for that notothing. And you've left me for two weeks. So these guys should never get st because they're playing for the country anyyway, that was me a side thing now. theseese guys have been absolutely terrific for Scotland. I said to you it started way back then when these boys joined. Yeah. So you've going to wholeole now and you're in the Premier League. right? Talk to me about that move and how you felt because obviously there's a bit disappointment to come with that as well Yeah, look, I was obviously then delighted to be in the Premier League, Igest league in the world and coming down and working under Steve Bruce and things like that. and I was very fortunate. I had a really good change room. You know, I mean, I had a lot of experienced lads I could tell but you know, I had Michel Dawson I had Curtis Davis, I had Tom Haduston, I had Jake Lvermore Shnaaudy, Gregy. J just nothingate that. When people name our football is this always that kind of That' mean but that's like So we had a really experienced group that could kind of help me and Hardry Mcuire and people like that come through and kind of grew up quite quickly as well because obviously the first season at how We we get relegated and that was obviously difficult, but it was also kind of eye opener of, okay, what standards we have to get to and You know, okay, I thought I was doing quite well in my career now, but I need to, you know, take it to kind of a whole new level now and I think that first season was a real ee opener for us. But the second season was the biggest one for me in the championship. I think I played the most games for the team. I learned so much. But what about when you did go down? what what was your feelings? obviously're disappointed to go down, but what are you feeling about your progression in your trying to get to where you need to be in respects of playing in the Premier League regularly and doing well What was it like when you went down, how did you feel I knew there was so much more work still to do. Do what I mean? I knew like I still don't think I'm the finished article, so that's always been my kinda the attitude that can always improve, but I think at that moment in that year it just kind of opened my eyes of What was your sumone like It was stressful because the thing is as well as relegations, it affects not only you, it affects staff and the building and it affects you know people lose jobs and You know, I think that season then The owners said, Okay, we'll give you one more season. I think the team stayed together, but there was a huge pressure on us to try and get back up. So I think this summer was more about the determination of o, let's try and go in this season. and we know we're going to be one of the favorites to go back up and We have to kind of go and We can have to go and improve that, I mean? In this time when all this is atminstract, are you in touch with Andy at all at any stage, are you speaking to him about what's going on with the relegation coming back and all that sort of stuff. You don't for them. you just when you meet how you get know and you sit down and you chat and you have a laugh and you realize that this is a football business because as you sit there getting really get. What you're doing now is you're going through the low points in Andy's career. Yeah. and We've all heard them Because you have to have these for character building. If he didn't have these, he couldn't have played there. Because there's sixty thousand people in there no interest in how you're feeling, what you're up to, and all the restic they just have to play there. And your true character comes out there. It's no on social media, it's no d interviews like it's there. So Andy keeps proving himself on there all the time. But it only happens if you get these character build in moments all the way through your career. You've heard that. We've all heard that What you need to watch it just now and Academy football is they're taking away these career defendant moments where you're tested mentally and physically So that's why you're strongl to get people coming through theng academies to playing these these things here. because of pressure. It's not reality football under twenty onees a night. Nobody cares about the scores. Nobody cares about the scores. you just turn up play a game. So you need character building moments and resilience so you come there And youre playing there when you can deal with Life' still rotten at times. you've been at Liverpool and think, what I came up for? Rotten? peopleeople are b here or something like that. you think, how bad am I? And probably ear youll start to think, Is that me finished now? Is that me I'm past my best. So you've got to work at that again. that's another moment. We've heard it being there, you think Yeah We werere finished. Unfortunate for me. I was right. I was finished. I did So So you have to have these he was safely at the time. Yeah so. Everybody in even Scotlandish Jon begins the say. Yeah. When he was at Sitman, I was telling everybody I like, buy him, notope,body whated him doing it. He end up got the championship in Scotland You know, and then going again. So you wouldn't you have gotten now are these two guys that can play at the highest level My bestest Coach, Brought to you by Gille. So Liverpool come in now High interest debt is one of the toughest opponents you'll face. Unless you power up with a sofI personal loan, a sofI personal loan could repackage your bad debt into one low fixed rate monthly payment It's even got super speed. since you can get the funds as soon as the same day you sign Visit Sfi d. com slash power to learn more That's SOFi dot com slash PoW ER. loans originated by SFi Bank NA, member FDIC terms and conditions apppply NMLS six nine six eight nine one When did you start hearing about the Liverpool interest? Did it happen quickly? So obviously in the January of my last year, I nearly went to in January, I nearly went to Sunderland with David Moyys. Was you thinking about it? W you thin? Yeah, because at that point I'd obviously you know how we're in a bit of an uncertain time Mar was howvid literally just came in and I didn't have long left in my contract and things like that. And my wife now she just found out she was pregnant with our first child and things like that. So obviously they things change everything, then want to know make sure that they' futured. So I did consider it and Burneley were there as well in January. It never happened and then the week later The week later I was actually telling the scout that phoned us. I told him this last night that I had a meet ro of agents and I sat down and there was a couple of Pier League teams interests and I said, forget Liverpool. Lverpool Liverpool's like the pipe' I maybe need to make this snake next to before. So we had this hour long chat about how we forget for them and we'll concentrate in these couple of clubs And in the fifty five minutes end in the conversation He's forign Vion ofA Jogan wants to have a chat whereere hand they I was like, forget them. Oh my go there. massive shock.. And then obviously time went by and then I went over and met I'd went over and met Jurun and I'm We didn't speak one bit about football. we just spoke about life. We spoke about H up, bringing Mart, bringing And yeah, I think we just clicked from there and you know, he obviously tells it now, but I think it's like at that moment he was like, no, I want the dod and After that I was just trying to get the two clubs toree and then I was on the way. What was obviously An for? I remember when we came up In Niny Palace, I couldn't wait to play at Anfield I just couldn't wait. So I was at home and we went to Annfield obviously and I knew they were kind of interested at that point And we got a man sent off after fifteen minutes, we could pump five one. I gave away a penal away And I always I' thinking I've walked off the patch going after. that's it I bought it. I bought it. And the actual the chief Scout text majorent that night went, Don't worry, We're not thinking anything. and that gave up thought right, okay, that' Again, that's a test. That's right. Exactly it. That's aest because what they've done is watched you under pressure. Yeah. They've watched sho. How does he reactity going behind? How is he playing Does he stick? Is he keep going That's the cana gay we're after. So it's amazing weir Your career can change in games. It might have been a great game, Arsenal seeen you, but they probably see youre getting beat, but how are you playing when you're getting beat? Are you still going? Are you still driving know or are you getting beat free nothing? Yeah. So they're the games. It's not usually the big games where you do really well sc the games you're growing. Yeah. It's usually the games where people looking at your true character in moments where it's tested. So that's probably when I've looked at you Yeah, will love you. I'm later So what was it like so so you're getting ready? you signed for liiverps. Tell me about that because it's obviously Like you said, he wasn't even it was a pipe gym that he was going to go there, but now it's happening And you're at Liverpool? Whats it like at the start? What' was it like when you get here? Yeah it was look it was unbelievable. obviously it took a bit longer to agree the fee so I'd missed out in preseason. the older lads they were all in Hong Kong at the time and I had to stay back. It was a couple of injured boys like Danny Eangs, Sadi O Mani, were just backs injy, Emy Kann I think. So I was training with them The first couple of days and that That maybe sent me back I was desperate to get on pre season. That's when you get to know the lads and get to mean. so I was kind of desperate to do that. I was guted that I missed out on that. and then For the first couple of months, I struggled in terms of my mindset of trying to turn it off. theseese are my teammates instead of my old oppition. I just felt as if like I mean, I was trying to then try to find where you belong in the squad and things like that. And I think The first couple of months was just all about learning how the manager wanted us to play. and then secondly trying to find where you're fitt in and things like that. And I think Obviously I made my debut against Palace first home game of the season went pretty well, but You know, I look back on that game and everyone was the fans were happy with me. but I always remember the manager. The manager was happy for me, but it was like then after the game he was like, I need you to do this instead of I mean, I was maybe putting too many balls in the bott. or whatever it was, but it was like I wasn't quite playing the way Jen Club wanted to go back to play and things like that. So it was then just trying to understand that the next couple of months and then It was just about when I then got the opportunity I had to be edated. Was that something that you could do? No problem. It wasn't like he was asking you to do something you couldn't do? No, no, no, wasn't it? It wasn't as if you hadd asked to do something you couldn't do, but you and clubesull would better choices. Exactly. The way he wanted his to play was quite unique. I mean, even defensively, you know, always jump into the field backank somet even jump like it was very much place forward place forward and And obviously I was coming from how who, you know, in the Premier League often or not, we were in low blocks. That was, you know, that was just because we were the and you know, we were the lesser team. we were coming andfield and trying to stay together and then all of a sudden I was the team that had the seventy, eighty percent possessition and that's a change of mindset, Do I mean? And it was just trying to then, like you said makeake better decisions on the ball, make better decisions off the ball and I just had to be patent really, and I think it was about the November time I got my chance and at that point I f I was belong in there and I felt I was ready to go and Give it my base shot And thankfully, you know, I didn't really look back from that moment. So then obviously we have to talk about your mate as well. Trent and everything like When did How did you entren like friendship just build Obviously, you're over that side of the picture you's over this side and you obviously get on well in training and everything that. How did it become such a tight friendship But I think because at the start we both felt the same. I think the season I signed, that was the season we're trying had just been know, officially promoted to the first team in terms of in the change room and things like that. So I think We were both trying to find our place in the changing room and at the same time, J mean I think we grew closer due to that, similar positions, similar ambitions as well to try and get into the first team and things like that. And I just think then probably aroundound about the same time we really then kicked on together. and I just think we both looked at each other thinking I can take a little bit from M, you can take a little bit from me and then both with our competitive nature. We just started competing on everything, we would compete in sprints and training, we would compete on anything and anything that we could table tennis in the training ground and then all of a sudden it came into the assist E everyone focuses on the assS competition, but it wasn't that it was more the fact that we were just pushing each other to New Olands juming. And I think that's what happens at clubs of that state. I remember when you went to Arsenle everything changed, everything even the training I found the training I found the training at the start It too took me a couple it took me a while. I think it took me a couple of months to get used to how good they were in training just to stay with them. It's an intenseity, isn't it? There's an intensity inequality the top players. I think it scares people when they actually come along. You think' why stacks where some players like they go to the club and they' done well and they go to the and then it just kind of doesn't happen for them Because like I was really afraid at that stage about like my quality at that level. Most of the te the quality is al right, it's just the The standards that people set All the time is sometimes too much for them. Some players can go and play a couple of weeks. do well and the same. But this cles like this. it's every week, every training session and sometimes it gets too much for them and the pressure gets too much for them. Do you ever get too much? You know with Liverpool and we know what they the goldfish world at Liverpool is You know, did he ever get to a stage for you where you're like, well, this is serious pressure? I think it was always serious pressure, but I think the older you get, the more you get better at dealing with it. Do I mean in terms of like sometimes I would maybe bring a bad result home, You know what I mean? in terms of maybe then it affects the night you have with your kids and things like that. And I think it was then trying to find the balance of, okay, football to football families, what I mean and trying to get things that you can switch off from football for and it's just trying to find the things that because it's so intense when you're out there and it's so intense in the training pitch. And like you said, we li we live in a world now where everything's under a microscope and things like that. and it's important then to just try and find the little things that you can become, you know, a dad, not a football I mean, just for the It's very hard to sweitch off Yeah, it really is nearly impossible on I'm afraid the people are in the boot, you've got to suffer over you as well. Yeah. There's no there's no tabt you can take to get over disappointment. And that's what I'm saying again, it's that character building thing you have to do and your wife have to get used to it a partner. have to get used to this maniac that comes comes home. And everybody thinks life's great for us Most of the time, there's moments of v were enjoying it in all this The r it is all hard work My best coach brought to you by Gill when Trump was getting ready to leave as well How was that with you? Be like obviously you've come through like you've mentioned, you pushed each other to but he realized he's come to the time where I want to go somewhere else. What was that like for you? Be you could see the shit for want of a better word that he went through in that time. What was that like for and your friendship and everything? Yeah, I think like for me, you know, towards him, I was just I'd said to him all along, I mean, I'm here for you, whatever you know, whatever you kind of need. And all there was one game in there when he got buooed and things like that, which was difficult for all of us. But also, you know I think Trent was the first to realize like he understood why the fans were maybe angry or annoyed or We're not here to question how people feel. Do I mean that's what it is. and if people want to show anger you know so fistation sometimes the fear from the fans because they think they're losing a great player. take the club down there' a fear. I think it's a compliment as well in a way mean because they were gutted at losing such a good player. now And I think in that moment in terms of friendship, it was just trying to help him navigate through that mean and it'd made these decision. it'd made a career choice and it was just about then you know trying to support him and that had made The brave decision to leave his boyhood club that he's played with for you know, so many years and You know, I think it was just trying to hit, you know trying to gide them through that and yeah, but Like I said, he was also you know, he's a big boy and he made his own decision and I think he committed his decision and You have to respect that and I think You know obviously we've med him as as a player. that's there's no doubt about that. I've missed him as a character as well. But yeah, he's obviously went on to try something new and Sometimes you just have to, you know take your hats off to that. But like now you and at Liverpool and you You're now you're now winning Win in the big ones. you've been what's it like now? Because Talking about Liverpool and Liverpool's winning the title again and what it means to Liverpool and you're part of that, a major part of that What was it like leading into that obviously trying to beat the The fanos that was Manchester City It's so tough and you've done that After losing ninety seven pointsven points. How did you deal with that in the dress room I think ninety seven points. I would have really I would have really worried for us that season if we didn't win the Champions League like in terms of you open main play because the season before we got beat the Champions Leag final against Realmrid realistically we weren't ready for that final. We were coming up against, you know, you know the old timers of the Champions League and I think then the season we had the ninety seven points hardly dropping any points and just coming up against an absolute unbelievable team. But the fact that we had the Champions League final to then you know, kind of bounce back on after the disappointment of the last game of the season I think was in full focus on the Champions League. Yeah but we were that determined to go win that Champions League because we knew that could be the start of our success. I mean, we had to win one of the big ones Obviously, then you go in and do it, but that I think climbing to the top of the mountain is the best. like that seem evening when you're at the top of the mountain, then like you said, you've got all the pressures, you've got everything to try and stay there But as a team, we were just like, you know, in the first season I was here, we were slow, but sure coming the second season, we took big steps I think we just all did it together. just did a big bunch of mates and It was the best time of our lives. I mean, just trying to climb up mount winning the Champions League was just like the best twenty four hours of your life. Yeah and that group will stay with you for the rest of your life. Exactly. When you're sixty seven, you'll get together. And the funny thing about it is because I know you get together. change shape, they lose their hair, they lose their teeth, but their character never changes. You know when you meet your olders, it never changes. the same people who are funny, same people who are door, same people who wear their crappy clothes. It's still crappy. And's the wonderful thing about football and I think you' won things, we've won things It's the memories that you get. That's the thing. If You said, where's your medals, no idea But can you remember Tony Ardams threatening to kill me at Cventry absolutely going to kill me. That kind do stuff, you know, because I remember it. You see so see the season after when you totally obliterate. What was what was the start of the season like that because I'm thinking to myself, yes, Liverpool won a Champions League. they lost the Premi League by a point And now everyone to challenge the let's see what they made of this season. Was that your attitude coming into that that season when you finally did it. It's like it's easy to say now because we went and won it but our attitude was we' wning in the Premier League. that was the attitude. like that's what we set out to do. I mean we'd won the Champions League, which was a massive step which showed that we could win the biggest You know, the biggest trophy that you can win is a club level and I think then the next season was we're not missing out on a point again, Do I mean, we're going to win this Premier League and that was that was just an attite going in from the very first day of preseason. So you see because I used to I was saying Strax about Manchester City created a monster in Liverpool because that team where you said you're really pleased to hear you say we're not losing a point That's what I was saying because what you had to do this season before and lost I said then City is going to have to come even harder now because this Liverpool team I've really grown some horns We think the thing was the season before what what it killed is we didn't lose many gamame. We just drew we drew and sometimes draws in football can kind of cover it up because if you're unbeaten in eight but you four draws. I mean you've dropped eight points or So it was like wed probably drew a cup so like I was remember obviously because I'd scored equalized but Villa way we played Villaay I equalized the eighth minute and you just seen every one of the lads sprinting back to you know Villa Park, difficult place to go You probably take a point It's like, no, we all had to actually to sprint back and try and get this winner because we couldn't afford to drop. We believe that we cann't afford to drop any point. I think that week we' been I think it was maybe six points clear but they had set a Over there the next Sunday, think we beat them three nill or something like that. We go nine points clear in November then we fought That was a point where we put the foot to the gas and I just thought over the Christmas period we could run away with foot. So So they did he did create a monster because C couldn't respond to that, could they? They didn't respond to what they created ed No now obviously that season they their standards dropped. dropped dropped a little bit, but I think maybe part of that was because of this. This is a good story, by the way, because I've never got a clue what hmed you. and I was watching Dundee at the time. I' got a clue. This was a different planet. So. No, it was wonderful gentleman. It was one of those that obviously, I can't remember The final tally was it might have been twenty. I don't know how many points he beat them by in the end. I think we finished on ninety nine points because we were one point short one hundred.. mayaybe they were high seventies early. How how did you feel after that? Because then now that you've done that, I was starting to think, well, this Liverpool team's going just Finished this off Yeah, well that was when you joined this club, I not now, but when I joined the club, the one thing it came like when you bump in at people on the street, the one thing that came across was the desperation for a Premier League because that's the one that All the other rival fans could turn them over, you know, your manionated, your manans your Chelseaas, your arsenals, even like They could say, Ohh, where's your Premier League and things like that. And that was the one thing that you could feel when you spoke when you bumped into people in the street I get the Premier Lague get the Premer League. And it's like you felt as if it was like, you know, desperation really. and that was the point. the fan the fan base was at. So I think for us to then go and achieve that for them and knowing that Okay, they don't, you know Rrival fans can't really slag them off for that anymore. It was just obviously it was a maddest time ever when it was COVID that season that came into when we actually won it. It was such a strange time in the world, but yeah, it was an incredible feeling just being able to produce for them and being able to know how desperate everyone within the club was to secure Premi League. So So And, you haven' announced that like after nine years, you are going to be leaving Liverpool obviously must have been a difficult decision to come to But like, u Are you in a good place in that respect? Do you know where you're going yet notot that you're going to tell us and or you're going to tell us, but if I did know, I'd tell you maybe off camera but'd tell you bit No, I think How close was that toom Be we had a totum thing Tam was close in January. I was close. I' not, you know, I wouldn't deny that. I was close. It was a serious consideration and things like that, but it didn't happen for you know X, Y, Z. and yeah, look, I think It's so hard because I've got such a massive tournament coming up which is, you know, takaking my kind of full focus and it's It's hard to see when you're in the kind of tournaments it's hard to see football beyond that. And I think I know I need to get my future sorted for my family and for myself and know where I'm going to go for my future, which I'll do the next couple of weeks, but I think in terms of leaving Liverpool, I just think The time was, you know, it was the time. It was, you know an honest conversation sitting down with the club and I've got a great relationship with everyone you know, up above and I think what I kind of still want from football in terms of, you know, playing and things like that They couldn't quite promise, which I completely I completely respect, but then you know, on the back of that, then there was, you know, nothing offered which is, you know, obviously because you can't match what you think and I just think It was then a conversation of mean let's just end this amazing nine year journey. and I suppose the club is going through a bit of a change of the guards, you know, end of V anira kind of stuff, mean more walking out the same you know day Tnd obviously left last season And yeah, look, all good things have to come to an end and I just think the people that have made our name for ourselves here is you know, in the next couple of years, I'm sure everyone will start fing now because we're not getting any younger we're all now in our thirties and things like that. Oviously couple of weeks left. I can look forward to my kind of farewell. I'm sure that' be emotional and with all my family in the stadium and things like that. but it's been an amazing journey one I look back on Pure joy in you know, the nine years, even off the pitch what's happened, you know having three kids and things like that is just everything's just happened in that short space of time and I'll look back on my time here again. Just one for you see went the last season. Did you feel that your influence had weaned away way bit on the whole thing? I think don't to tell why because I was like that at Leeds but I was playing and I always when I was playing again, I had an influence in every player on the patch. Yeah. Near the end, you can see people just no taking be the same any seriousness or was thet name in as much. It' one Restley so. Ray Wilkin said something similar when he stage. He said he didn't feel like he had the same. But the difference Yeah. but then you go away somewhere. It was the same at manionated, it was bit like that, you go somewhere, you become an influence, the leads were the same then I packed it in and then I went to Coventry And I felt I was an influence with the players again. So I think that the secret about your next move is When I'm going to go that you' got to feel you have to accomplish something with it and you've got to be an influence by everybody looks at you go, than my goodness Andy Roberintson's here. you know and you'll enjoy that because what you'll get from that enthusiasm and people in the boot you that will go into you Yeah. and you'll get a kick from that to keep going and driving just like obviously, especially the last few years, you know, when you come in at halftime and stuff, probably me and Virgil and that are probably the most vocal things aren't going well now It's a lot easier to do that when you're sat in the shirt and you're the one that's felt the problems on the pitch. When you're walking in as a sub and you've just been bystander effectively When you maybe see problems, it's, you know, you probably some of the lads are going now You're not on the patch. You don't know the problem of, you know, the wanger coming inside and So yeah, I think you have felt that a little bit, Do I mean? And and that's the thing and I've been, you know You know, I know I've been so important for the club over the last the last nine years and D differenterent capacities, but yeah, it's just, u It's been, you know, I don't look back on it with any any bitterness around it, you know I mean it's been I would never imagine now they've been here for nine years and the fact that it's been nine incredible years winning what have won Yeah, just go to whatever's next with, you know, excitement and You know and just trying the funny thing is, you know, I'm look at the business, but when you see somebody else playing a position, you think, I'm better than them. You know it was at Lason, David Cuming, David Rocastle, Geor J Sse and I'm going, That's good, that's good. but I some want to play. You know, it's really nice to he was And I hope he's doing really well, but know as well as me. But that's the thing with someone like Andy, whoever signs Andy would definitely be signing someone that they know will be playing regularly. But you're saying more on the player? Absolutely. You're saying them more on the play. You're saying a player that if you're in a tunnel and you turn around It's like Brian Robsins there or Willie Miller play where and new there Let's go.s thank goodness, you're here. That' candid That's the candidate. I to f a couple of clubs for here. Again, you know, you're talking about free kids here. you know, so you people talk about, you, wanted to experience a different culture and this and that. That's all fine if you're you know, I mean, it's just you and your misses or something. Yeah Yeah. But like when you've got threeree kids now, you got to try and see I want to stay as close as I can to them I don't want to be going away too far from them I'm not saying I need to go wherever and don't get me wrong. But I'm just saying those are the kind of thoughts that come into your mind. you know what I mean? right? The vicinity and how far my kids that we're going have to uproot my kids again and stuff. That's funny thing about how life you man unated And that's a store it sale that you know, when I left here and again it's one of these moments where ye. You're doing, you think that The world's horrible, I'fished football, blam bl. So I went to Les and I spoke to people there and I thought They're actually telling me they need me to get promoted. They want me there. So again, that's that kind of thing. responsibility. It's a responsibilityough. I've never heard for the last few years You know, never heard that because I've always been at clubs where Willy Millve is a captain and one of the greats and Brian Robson. Yeah. Right. Job always me they would actually say, we want you to lead leads of it. I think that's a kindy thing you after we go, right, I'm for this and I can be a leader becauseuse that's what you want to be as a leader and playing the same mode that you've been playing. so I just hope that you can You can find the right place and it's close enough for you and the kids but. We' got to talk about Scotland before we go because obviously the World Cup, you'd be capting Scotland S in the World Cup there that must be amazing for you. How do How do you feel about that? Yeah it's like one of the ones that you don't want to think about it too much until it's until it's in terms of, you know, I can go back to the You know, the Denmark game is, you know, one of the most emotional' mean after the game in terms of of what you say, I'm never a fan, right? I analyze stuff football, right? I analyze it all the time. I can't enjoy a game. I analyze it But that game. Yes. me and mres Str can turn into fans. I' the go everything about the game and what was watching, it was just it's probably one of sccot It's' it the best sccotting game. It could be. It could be the best scot game. Ething that was going on in the goals, the atmosphere, the way it was and the way you finished it, you know, as I say, it's funny don't because I don't get I've never been a fan. But you see even when you you do panditry There certain games you watch that take you what takes takes you away from it. That was one of those games as well. Yeah. because There's so much on it and then the goldals as well. fil be Scotland's best ever gold one you know. It was just magnificent, as I said ye, I don't, I don't turn it a fan. I very rarely turn it a fan, but I did it that night. I did it that night. and it was a great feeling being a fan. You actually turn it a bit knock case, don't But ye, like obviously that night to then go and achieve it from You know, obviously since nineteen ninety and things like that, it's just like you then start you know, thinking about it and think now we're now we're so close. I think the squad gets announced next week and then the squad meet up the week after. so it's like That were no close to jumping and it's now the excitement' building All of a sudden, the group jack's going off again, everyone's trying to get, you know going again and It's just so exciting and I think the me I spent a couple of days up in Scotland after that game I had a couple of days off and The most pleasing thing for me after that game was the amount of Scotland flags you know out the windows, the amount of Scotland Church you would see walking about. We've not always had that. you know, we've always had sometimes we've had tough times and You know, even, you know, when Steve Clark first came in When I got Captain see it had a big impact on all of us in terms of we were playing in front of ten, twelve thousand people where there was a big change because You know, obviously, when when the gaffer left a lot of players went with you. that was the kind of point of the squad we were at. We had a lot of people over thirty that were playing really well, but needed to be changed. But that was their manager and we could have probably done with them maybe. slower you know ent the transition so we kind of got thrown straight into it and then The likes of me and MGginning and things had to probably step up even more at twenty three, twenty twenty. Mc Tominy was even younger, you know, he was only twenty one, twenty at that time. So But now for us to go on that journey and to be going to the World Cup, it's just it's unbelievable. and You know, we're such a good group of lads and We just go over there to try and achieve even more history. It's a nice ide. because you think a gu L guy have got let because if Stracted there you wouldn't have got let go, but like fourty let go of Celtic and then Fingers crossed, you finish the season well you're going to be You're going to be leading your country out in in America that that must feel pretty cool. when you look back on h it's gone for you Yeah, I see my I've been very lucky to have a lot of good achievements, but my biggest one' been been capt in by my country, jumping in because when you're a little When you had a little kids you't you know I didn't have dreams a playe with Liverpool. It was never something But what I did have dreams of a plane with Scotland because you never know what way your career is going to go and Youven't had dreams of playing with certain clubs you played with, but it's just then the career goes, but the one thing we have is we want to play for our country But then to captain your country is just a whole new level and The fact I've been able to do it in a pretty special time and a special a makes it even more special in there sumer be good. The great thing about as play for your country and being captain whatever When you play for Liverpool or anybody else, you make that crowd happy, but you actually make a nation happy Yeah. And it's not just football people. You make the whole nation see meeting people eighty year old D son and great So probably never seen itbe neverget but they know the made you've got the chance to make all these people happy. It's a wonderful, wonderful feeling You know I wanted to mention just before you go and A AR twenty six, How's it going to charity? Yeah, really good. I know you've been a big supporter of it, which is always appreciated. You've done a lovely message for our dinner the in the summer, but yeah it's going it's going great. you know, obviously we're just trying to build it more and more and more and you know, it's not always easy at times in terms of, you know, always trying to get coaches and things like that to do it. but it's been great and it's been Something that's been, you know also what we spoke about earlier to take your mind off football and things. It's been great for me and my wife to kind of at times you know, take take everything back and go back right, Okay, what do we want to do? know what kind of difference do we want to try and make? And we've helped a lot of people and we're very proud of that and We want to keep building it, We want to keep getting better and better at it and then taking even up and down the country for more and concentrating more on the free football coaching and things because I do believe You know, I think we all believe the gaps getting a bit bigger in terms of football coach and things like that can become really expensive now and you know, people that are from less fortunate areas shouldn't miss out on the chanceces to have these. So That's what we kind of looked at over COVID. We used COVID to kind of, you know, really put our values down on a piece of paper and kind of try and follow it. So it's been a great journey for us and One that like I saidays, I've really enjoyed and still enjoying it and Hopefully we can just keep abouting it and hopefully we can get even more kids on the grass. When you look back now, how important would you say that Gordon and what he's done for you in your career has been to you Oh know, like I I know he's just sat here and you would be forced to say that's hard to din. It does hard take the long. It doesn't take me much to be nice about him, but no like he gave me an opportunity on an international level. Do I mean from a relatively early stage. Do don't mean not many managers would have gave somebody that opportunity eight months on the into proro and things like that. and no was it was brilliant for me. giving me that debut at Poland. We spoke about the words that they gave me before I went on. I don't I think I would have You know, if he didn't say the words, I probably would have passed it back to Charlie MGrew and' a bad mov. Exactly. Not give it back to Charlie, Charlie how did it pick Charlie? But you know, it gave me then the confidence to just go and be who I was at Dundee United and to go and do that on an international stage. And then obviously as a relationship I've grown more and more belief playing by games against Ireland at home, England at home And things that certainly still from my very early age, I was absolutely gutted when he left when he left Scotland. I think we all were at that time I always remember I always remember when he'd left. I think Frank had texted us I would say he's not sure whether he wanting to stay going to text him. we all text him and I think I think they say he got idea anyway. Aolutely said yes. But we were all we were all gutied because he was You know, the person it was a great job. and it's great to say that for me and you will become youll become a coach. and then you just see people doing well Yeah. And you can sit with him with a cup of tea watch and going I know him.. And he was a great ky. Yeah. It's great to do that. It's one of the great things of been age and looking back and seeing guys doing well. but I'm going to bring up something that's not. Do you know not once during this whole interview did he ever say he was proving anybody wrong It just flew through And whatever knock back in his life, he just kept going going. And he was so and it looks to me in his hand he was so happy making ve been a good teammate that has ended up here It just shows you don't have to go for yourself and make yourself better, makeake everybody better. you'll end up being a top top player and the world C.. Any tickets? No. E for you guys. Nice. Nice one How you doing? It's long. don't, know come on' some completely. Yeah but Str is running r and that's when you scy. What do you do to usess? When we were playing for arsle when we were trying to get g, you and Gary McCallister and that was too good. Re good. good feel to both bit and playing against time It changes completely h. When you talk most there's change, right? Yeah. There's the devil in us comes it but he was ridiculous.estly. I don't know you know was ridiculous. I've always felt like, you know, coming into the game the time I came in at twenty two. I always felt like I was catching I just all I just