Braveheart

Chris Dunlavy Talks to Bradford City Manager Stuart Mccall About His Career as Player and Manager …

STUART McCall always followed his heart. To Scotland. To Ibrox. Three times to his beloved Bradford City.Born in Leeds to Scottish parents, the 53-year-old’s tartan roots ran deep. Dad Andy was a proud Glaswegian who’d played for Blackpool, West Brom and Leeds before retiring to life in West Yorkshire.

Growing up, his heroes were Alan Wells and Jocky Wilson. With his pasty skin, ginger mane and rampant freckles, McCall even looked the part.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he explains, “I’m British first and foremost. A passionate Yorkshireman when the cricket is on. But even as a kid, I felt 100 per cent Scottish.

“My dad always told me that he only had an old Mini in 1964. The only reason I was born in England is because he couldn’t get back up the road to have me in Scotland ”

Famously, those allegiances would be brutally tested. Having played in pub sides at the age of 14, McCall was two years into his burgeoning Bradford City career when he was summoned by the under-21 sides of England and Scotland on the exact same day.

“It came right out of the blue,” he recalls. “I didn’t have a clue what to do. And in those days, there weren’t any mobile phones so I couldn’t get hold of my mum or my dad. Everyone was pushing me for a final decision.”

Perversely, he chose England. “Alex Ferguson was the under-21 manager and, believe me, it wasn’t easy saying no to him,” laughs McCall now.

“My thinking was that, in those days, hardly any Scottish players were based down here. Brian McClair was the only one. I was worried I wouldn’t get noticed.”

Almost immediately, however, he regretted the decision. Then, on the eve of the game, a good luck call from Scotland boss Jock Stein tipped the balance.