Hard graft is in Andy Halliday’s DNA. In the last century, he’s the only male member of his family who hasn’t worked at Govan’s famous Yarrow shipyards.
When dad Colin was off-shore, his mum was juggling two jobs to ensure her boy had the football equipment he needed. If his parents couldn’t get time off, his grandpa Jack would usually take him to training –even if his tiny Fiat Cinquecento car was a death trap. Throughout Halliday’s life, hard work has been a pillar. And that’s why – even now – he’s in awe of the coaches and volunteers who give time to the game he loves.
Last week the SFA launched their annual Grassroots Awards in conjunction with MailSport & McDonald’s, where Scottish football’s unsung heroes will be rewarded for their efforts at a Hampden dinner. It’s close to Halliday’s heart, given his upbringing in Govan’s Copland Road. A stone’s throw from Ibrox he honed his skills on the street – or any patch of grass.
From his first boys’ club, Park Villa, to going full-time at Livingston, nothing has come easy to Halliday on his route to becoming a footballer. Having now played for Middlesbrough, Rangers, Hearts and currently Motherwell, he also appreciates the sacrifices other people made to give him a crack at it. None more so than his close family.
As he reflected on those early days Halliday – who is now a youth coach himself – said: “The first football memory I have is playing for Park Villa at roughly six years old. We used to play at Elder Park and a lot of my family were based around that area of Govan.
“On a Saturday morning there would be a tournament where you’d have five or six games in an hour and a half. I scored the winning goal in one and looked to the side. I had about eight members of my
Football
Rangers
UPS
DNA
Parke
Ball
as
Andy Halliday