Did you enjoy your time playing football in Scotland for Stirling Albion?
Whilst I didn’t achieve all that I set out to in Scotland I have very fond memories of my time with the Binos

How did it happen coming back over to Scotland to sign for the Binos?
Through a couple of contacts - I had arranged some trials with clubs like St Mirren, St Johnstone and Dundee United who were managed by Billy Kirkwood at the time. When it didn’t work out for me in Dundee, Billy put me onto his good mate Ray Stewart who was Kevin Drinkell’s assistant and I signed soon after.

Image Courtesy of Queensland Roar FC

What did you think of Kevin Drinkell and the style of football played by Stirling?
I have every respect for what Kevin achieved as a player but as a manager I felt that I personally didn’t benefit much and that the squad we had could have achieved more with better guidance.

Do you still keep in touch with any of your old team mates?
Ronnie McQuilter was somebody who helped me out a lot during my time in Scotland and we still keep in touch. He came out and played a season with the Brisbane Strikers a few years back.

Do you have a favourite goal that you scored for Stirling Albion?
The two that stick out are my first goal on New Year’s Day away to East Fife in the snow, and the goal at Brockville which gave us a point and pretty much secured our safety in Dvision One

Do you ever look out for the Stirling results or see a game if you are ever back in Scotland?
I always look out for the result but unfortunately any time I have been back in Scotland either there is no game on or I spend all my time catching up with family. Watching a game at Forthbank is something I would love to do sometime soon.

How does the standard of football in Australia compare with Scottish football?
It is obviously difficult to compare as they are two very different styles but I would place the A-League somewhere around the bottom half of the SPL and the top half of Division One.

Image Courtesy of Australian FourFourTwo

How do the Scottish fans compare with the Aussie?
Again it is a very different atmosphere here where the league and clubs do a lot to attract families to the games. Most clubs now though have very “British Like” supporter groups who are creating a better atmosphere with singing etc. There just isn’t the tradition or history which supporters in Scotland have.

How did you enjoy your management experience with Brisbane Strikers?
I loved every minute of it as I was in a win/win situation. I turned 28 just after I took the job so if it didn’t work out most people would have blamed the club and said I was too young, but fortunately for me it went the other way and we were reasonably successful and people thought I had done a good job.

You scored 9 goals in 28 appearances for Stirling, but you have only scored 12 goals in the last 10 years…..what’s happened??
I played only one season back in Australia as a striker where I was the club’s top scorer and have since been playing mostly as a centre half or as a holding midfield player.

Is management something you definitely want to become involved in after your playing career?
Definitely. I have taken a full-time job back with the Brisbane Strikers who are now playing in the Queensland State League and have recently completed the first part of my “A” Licence.

Your currently playing alongside Craig Moore, Simon Lynch and Danny Tiatto, all who have played at the highest level in Britain – do you all have good banter?
Craig and I have been mates since we played in representative teams together in our early teens. Danny and Simon are great lads but Lynchy probably came in for the most stick particularly around the time of the old firm matches.

Are there any plans on coming back to Scotland either as a player or as a coach/manager?
I would be very surprised if I do as a player as I haven’t many years left but if the right opportunity came along in management I would love to have a go at it and see if I am up to the challenge.

What is your best career moment thus far?
I would have to say taking the Strikers to the play-offs in my season as player/manager, but there have been plenty of others like avoiding relegation with Stirling in my first season, playing against Rangers in a friendly whilst with The Binos and playing against a Brazil u/23 Olympic team in 2000 which had Ronaldinho, Lucio, and Fabio Aurelio in it.

What message do you have for Stirling fans who want to see Skippy back at Forthbank in the future?
Thanks very much for giving me tremendous support during my time at the club, and if the circumstances are right for all, it would be an honour to again play for or manage the club in the future.

Many thanks to Stuart McLaren for taking the time to do the interview with the Official Website and our contributor.