The Final Whistle.

There once was a Canadian boy that would dream the sweetest dreams a childhood could ever ask for. A dream that filled his mind with big hopes and ambitions, but little did he know these dreams were the foundation that built a burning desire inside of him. At the age of 24 I was given a chance to live my dream, a journey about the unknown but definitely an experience that nobody could ever look back on. On August 7th I arrived in the motherland of my parents, Scotland. A case with clothes, a bag full of kit and the hope of a chance all packed up. Preparing for the trip physically and mentally was a battle, but I knew deep down that was going to make me stronger for what was about to take place in the future cause it was only about to get harder. The first week in the country was the start of this battle with previous trial/ training arrangements cancelled due to unknown reasons? The following week however was a little more positive with sessions at Forfar and Cowdenbeath, which gave me a good insight on different professional environments. Little did I know on the 28th I'd be signing my first contract ever with Cowdenbeath F.C.

It was an interesting negotiation, an opportunity to showcase my talent for £30 per week obviously another income would be needed as well. The price was a bit embarrassing, but the chance of a lifetime was one of those priceless moments that rarely comes your way, especially for Canadians. The idea was to get in, gain some experience and if I did well maybe a possibility of moving up to a division 1 side was in the picture. The coach shook my hand after my signature was added to paper and said to me " Son, this handshake is my word." His word of promise that if I was good enough, he wouldn't stand in the way of my chance along with increasing my wages to help me get by. I was happy that I had managed to sign on in such a quick time frame and was looking forward to prove myself each opportunity I got.

When a player is new to a club without a previous reputation the other players are curious to see the talent of the new signing. My first chance came against Raith Rovers in the Fife cup where we ended up going into penalty kicks after a 1-1 score at the final whistle. I managed to make a save in the do or die moment for Raith that put them out of the cup. It was a good feeling to build some confidence off to carry me through until my next chance came. A little bit of time passed after this, with games in the reserve division and weekly training sessions and then it was already October. Middle of October to paint the picture, Cowden was visiting Arbroath that weekend. Our team was doing well and moving up the table each weekend. I found myself in my usual position on the bench, spectating the play, when all of a sudden in the second half our starting keeper takes a knock to the head after cutting of a near post cross. With a 1-0 lead to protect, my first SFL match was on its way! The atmosphere was good fun being by the Arbroath fans, hoping to see their team clinch an equalizer. This proved to be difficult from the spectacular defending by the players, which gave us the victory. The following week I found myself in goals again after an early morning phone call on match day. This weekend was a big match because we were playing Brechin who were sitting in second place. If we won, we would switch positions in the table. The game ended 0-0 what probably was one of the most boring games to watch from what i heard.

Well what happened? So far, its just been a tale about a Canadian boy and the chase after his dream. Every tale has a beginning, middle and end, as well as a bright side and a dark side. This is where the trouble began off the field. Our worlds economical state is no secret, many people scraping by on minimum wage and minimum hours or benefits. For myself a new country meant a new start, I knew I would face some challenges along the way and hard times, but I would do my best to get beyond them and survive. I was desperate to find a job, doing almost anything, at any wage. I found it difficult and empty as I had nothing to show for my attempts through phone calls, resumes and online applications. The clock was ticking, as I had to find something to help support me for weekly groceries and rent. I was living off my £30/ week wages at Cowdenbeath for my groceries and my cousin helped me out a lot by not charging me rent until I got settled in. The possibility of not being able to stay cause my income was so poor had become a great concern for me at this point. My practice boots had a massive rip in the side that just barely got me through sessions as they were ready to pop at any moment. I tried my best to keep my mind on what was happening on the field, but when I was down, the phone would ring.

Any time of day, no matter what day of the week, except Sunday...A magical man of Scotland would call me. Each time I hung up the phone after talking with him my spirits would lift as he re lit the desire and hope of what I was trying to achieve. His thoughts and hard work were the things that help push me to do my best as I didn't want to let him down. He became my only friend in Scotland during these lonely 3 months. A man who I only heard his voice, but never met eye to eye even once. His support, knowledge of the game and the way things worked behind closed doors were the things that made him so magical. However, there was a special characteristic about him that made him unique in his ways, which was his witty comments. I'll never forget when he told me that when I get my chance all I have to do is go out and play " super man for the day." A few times he'd mention he was 102 years old when he referred to his experience in the game of football. A man who has climbed the mountains of Scottish football, from the lower division right up to the topflight, he's truly seen it all. Without his support and friendship, I would have never even left Canada, just one of the many.

The last Thursday of every month is when players at Cowdenbeath have a smile on their face and not because it's the last session before our match day on Saturday, but because it's pay day. However 2 weeks later into November I still found myself asking for my wages from October. The club is aware of my struggles off the field, so why did this follow? The tension stressed me past my limit to the point where its effected my performance. For me when a player can't receive his £120 wage for the month, which the club made by selling pies at halftime, the situation has to be re evaluated and there is a possibility that the coach doesn't care. The most comforting thing is having a comfortable home with opportunity away from football back in Canada.

It began as an ambition that started by packing up my life and moving to another country. A standard was set, within a month I signed a professional contract in the lower divisions of Scotland. I saw things from a side of the game that the newspapers don't cover. The whole journey has been special with every save along the way. I just want to finish this off with saying thanks to the many people who supported me along the way. Especially my family, friends and to the readers who travelled with me through this story while it developed. Just promise me next time you close your eyes at night and have a dream, that you remember it might only be a finger tip away.

All the best and good luck to the Blue Brazil boys on the rest of their journey to promotion.



_______________
l Cameron McKay l


THE END

Match Fitness.

An empty stadium can be a beautiful thing with only the field staring back at you. When you look out into an open stadium you can only picture what the stadium atmosphere is like when its full. The flood lights shone bright lighting the whole stadium. A peaceful comfort through the warm up on this mildly cold damp night for a game. Dunfermlin's squad is put together of full time footballers who train Monday-Friday mixed with some of the 1st team players as well. Our side trains a couple nights a week, which also included a couple 1st team regulars to get some more match fitness in. It took our side a little longer to switch on in the first half a couple saves early on in the match kept the team in the game. At the half we found ourselves down 1-0. The boys lifted their heads after a good team talk in the change room to sort some things out. Not too long into the second half we equalized on a header crossed into the near post. At this point in the game the guys had more confidence and played at a better level. Dunfermlin found 3 more goals in the second half with 2 break aways and a cracker of a strike that dipped top corner, taken from outside the 18. At 4-1 the drive behind the team just wasn't there anymore. To be fair it could have been about 9 or 10-1, but that's what the reserve league is about, getting your match fitness and some practice in for the first team games if you can get your chance. This weekend the first team looks to continue down the road to success as we're on the road to Clyde.

Cowdenbeath 1-4 Dunfermlin (Reserve Match)

Derby Day

It's an experience that you love to be a part of whether it's in the stands or on the field. The classic hate for that one team, no matter who they play. Years of making history, wins, losses and mixed emotions from the results of each time you meet on the pitch. East Fife was in town this past weekend, sitting just 4 points below us. The league is still very tight and anyone can win on any given day. This was the biggest number of fan support I've seen at any game this season, which made the game more interesting. More importantly this weekend was another chance for my club to move up the table. Our game was played at 12pm instead of the usual 3pm due to a race car event on afterwards. The game got off to a quick start with the scoreline being 2-1 in favour of Cowdenbeath after a back and forth affair of goals within the first 20 minutes. After half time I didn't feel my team was going to lose. Near the end the other keeper was forced into making a couple good saves that locked up the 3 points for us. Later on in the afternoon Brechin tied and Sterling lost which placed us in 2nd place and moved 3 points out of 1st. In a few weeks time we will get another crack at the top of the table leaders and hopefully we will continue down the road of success to be number 1.

Cowdenbeath 2-1 East Fife

Superman For The Day.

A wise man once told me that there is a new magical man in Scotland and he's looking for an opportunity to prove himself. You never know when the chance will come and there is always the question of "will you take it when it comes?" The whole week there was something special building up inside the team. A chance to take over 2nd place in the tables and an opportunity to get closer to being number 1. On Friday night I had spent some time talking on the phone with someone I would say is the true magical man of Scotland. He always calls when things seem to be getting tough and always manages to restore the belief in what I'm trying to achieve. On your journey to success and your dreams you will struggle, but when you get there, you'll look back on those difficult times and remember, the battles you won on and off the field to get there. Another call just after that conversation came from the keeper coach himself, just asking me how I was feeling and to wish me luck. At that point I wasn't sure if I was going to be starting in goals against Brechin. The phone rang on Saturday morning and when I picked up, the gaffer asked me how I was feeling. I told him I felt good and I would be ready, just go out there and do my thing. Probably the most short and sweet conversation he's ever had with any player as I'm not one to talk the talk, I'd rather show it on the field. A little flash back occured to me about a conversation I had with the magical man of Scotland where he said to me, "big man, when you get your chance, all you have to do is go out and play super man for the day." I took this along with my thoughts of what I had to do to be at my best. Once I finally got to the changeroom the announcement was made that I'd be in goals, from that point on it seemed like forever before I could get my warm up in. Not because I was nervous, more so because I was ready to show my coaches and teammates what I can do. I had a really good warm up, everything felt natural and anything that came into me I was going to hold onto. This match was special for myself being my first starting debut, but more importantly my team was looking to move into 2nd place. I felt confident from the start to the finish because I knew no matter what happened the guys infront of me were going to be solid right through to the final whistle. I came out for a cross and could hear the defender getting in the way of a Brechin striker, I've never felt so protected taking a cross. The match itself wasn't a top performance, definately not the level of play that Cowdenbeath is able to produce on the field. With 10 minutes left in the match Brechin had their best chance to clinch the 3 points forcing me to make 2 saves in a row before my defenders cleared the ball. I appreciated the efforts of the players infront of me as they cleared most of the possible threats through the entire match. When the final whistle went, a few heads dropped because all week the team thought about beating Brechin and moving up in the table. Even though I was disappointed that we didn't come away winners on the day, I felt I couldn't have performed any better on my debut infront of the home crowd. As the team gathered in the changeroom after the match I had some thoughts wishing my family back home in Canada and girlfriend could have been in the stands to share this with me, as they know everything that has gone on behind the scenes to get this far on my journey. I guess this is one of the feelings you deal with when you're playing outside of your home country. On the plus side it will be hard for my dad to yell at me for my errors from behind the goal now, just like I was 9 years old. Another week begins and the chase continues to get to the top, but there is all the possibility to get there. Fife derby next week against East Fife.




Cowdenbeath 0-0 Brechin

37 Minutes of Heart.

You've sat on the bench for 53 minutes of the match and watched every minute of that game with hopes of walking away with 3 points. The other keeper playing cuts off a hard driven ball to the front post and seems to be rather routine until you see the ball dribble out of his hands and end up in the back of the net, followed by a celebration of a happy striker who thinks he's managed to tie the game up 1-1. The ref has whistled the play dead and decided to claim a foul on the keeper as the striker made contact with him, the only problem here is the keeper is not getting up. Infact the stretcher is coming out and he's coming off. "Cam get warmed up, you might be going in," was all I heard before I found myself jogging down the touch line trying to get loosened up before I stepped over that white line. The chance I have been waiting for, the one I've been training for since I stepped off the plane a few months ago now. A little talk with the coach to help me get settled in, up to the linesman for a quick stud check and down into the goals with the Arbroath fans, who were waiting to tell me how great they thought I was. Before the game our coach talked about how supportive we are as a unit, if one player is having an off day, the next player beside him will be there to help lift him and support him. This is definately one of the few teams I have played for where I've seen such a tight bond. Through my 37 minutes of play my teammates gave me tons of support as we worked for one another to claim the 1-0 victory. I've played infront of 3,000 fans down in the USA with the Des Moines Menace of the PDL but the atmosphere in this match was way louder as the passion was driven behind the fans of the Arbroath, with the belief that they could take advantage of this freshly substituted keeper. The guys infront of me played absolutely solid, clearing anything that came into the box only allowing two shots, with one of them being off side. The decision for the referee to end the game seemed like forever but it was a pleasure to hear when it went and to see nothing but my teammates lift their hands in the air with joy. It's always a great feeling to go into a match knowing that the guys infront of your are solid players. This was a good taste of what it's all about and I look forward to the next opportunity when it presents itself. Hopefully it will be from the 1st minute one day, I don't fancy myself as a supersub, but it was definately been another story to tell about my adventure over here. A high intense finish to a 37 minutes end in a match where the lads played with their hearts and gave it everything to maintain their 3rd position in the table. A big game next weekend, with a win could push us up into second position.

Cowdenbeath 1-0 Arbroath

Team Effort.

Every time you step onto the field you prepare to play your best. You put your kit on and play for the badge on that jersey. As the game goes on the fans show their support and you don't want to let them down. It goes deeper then the club and the fans though, its about the people in that dressing room, whatever it takes you don't let any of them down. From your teammates, to the coach and supporting staff because everyone is there for the same reasons to try and achieve something great together. Our competition was Peterhead this weekend. Throughout the match I felt our team played well as a unit. It can be great football to watch when we keep the ball on the ground. Everyone was winning their battles on the field but more importantly we didn't play down to the other teams level. You can see the level and confidence rising within one another as each game passes us by. A couple of the guys had good strikes on the day which found the back of the net. This pushes us up one place into 3rd spot, which is great and hopefully we will continue to do well on the pitch. Every week is important to win 3 points, but the next couple weeks are really important. Next weekend we see Arbroath who are 3 points behind us but also have a game in hand and then the following week we'll get a chance to take a crack at Brechin who are just ahead of us in the table. For a team who wasn't suppose to be in the 2nd division we're doing well. Just take it a week at a time and get the results and hopefully the team will continue to play well.

Cowdenbeath 5-0 Peterhead

Scotland and The Stadium With Turf?

You wouldn't believe it until you've seen it. Some players hate it, while others don't mind it. In Canada its become more common as our seasons don't allow us to play outdoors all year round. I must say though Scotland is one country where I never expected to see astroturf used for match day. The Blue Brazil headed to Stenhousemuir this past weekend with visions of another 3 points to help rise up in the tables once again. The season is still very young but the spread amongst the teams is still very tight. One win can bring you closer to the top, with a little bit of luck. When I walked into the stadium I was looking at the pitch only to realize a little bit of Canada had followed me across the waters as well. I was surprised to see turf being used in Scotland as they have some of the best fields I've played on, Canada just doesn't seem to understand how to maintain a proper pitch. Very high winds for the game, crossing in the warm ups was just taking the ball out of the air and throwing it behind the goal. My team took a 1-0 lead in the first half when the keeper had a bit of a blooper. From my view it looked like he just dropped it into the back of the net himself. Everyone felt pretty comfortable with the lead in our hands going through the tunnel at halftime. In the second half a 1v1 situation forced the Stenhousemuir keeper off his line, only to play the man and not the ball, resulting in a penalty. The penalty was well taken, which pushed Cowden up 2-0. Nothing was really created by Stenhousemuir to pose a threat in the 2nd half and when the final whistle went it was offical that we were going home with 3 points in our pocket. This result pushed the team up into 4th in the table, with a couple teams having a game in hand. It can be a good thing to have a game in hand, but you can't count the points you haven't earned just yet. So now the pressure is on those teams to win, as we look to climb higher next week when Peterhead comes to visit us.

Cowdenbeath 2-0 Stenhousemuir