Scottish football is littered with players who have had to move on from the Old Firm to try to make a name for themselves in the game. Many of them hung around at Ibrox or Parkhead for longer than perhaps was sensible, convincing themselves that their talent would see them through and hoping that in the end it would turn out all right. For many that chance simply never comes.
Kevin McBride is one such player, who despite being a shining light in the Celtic reserve side for a number of years had to wait to his 24th birthday and move away from Celtic Park before making his senior debut.
When the 2004’2005 season began Motherwell had still to replace the departed Keith Lasley on the right hand side of midfield. To fill the gap ‘Well gaffer moved to sign Kevin on a 3 month long deal from Celtic. Initally it proved to be an inspired signing.
Coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 reverse to Hibernian, the Motherwell support took to Barra instantly as he burst up and down the right hand side sending in some excellent deliveries.
We didn’t wait long to discover that a lack of first team opportunities hadn’t dented his confidence as he blasted home from the spot in his first start for ‘Well in the 3-0 win over Morton in the League Cup. Another penalty followed in a 2-0 victory against Hearts before Barra showed he could bury more than just penalties by volleying home in the 3-2 victory over Livingston at Almondvale.
There were even some amongst the Dossers faithful pondering whether an international call up could be a possibility for Kevin when suddenly things came a shuddering halt as he was injured against Aberdeen and spent the next 6 weeks on the sidelines.
On returning to the side Kevin initially struggled to recapture his early season form, but he had done more than enough to convince Terry Butcher that he was worthy of a longer stay and Motherwell were delighted to sign him on a permanent basis.
From playing in front of a hardy few at New Broomfield for Celtic reserves just a few months earlier, Kevin now found himself in a team competing in the top half of the SPL and even playing in a national final as ‘Well made it to the CIS League Cup Final. What a transformation in fortunes!
With ‘Well on the verge of a top six place Kevin’s season was cruelly ended at Inverness by a crude challenge for the which the offender failed to get the punishment he deserved. Over the season though Kevin had more than played his part in seeing the Dossers home and he could take great satisfaction from his first full season in the top team at Fir Park.
Sadly his injury was so severe that he would not only miss the tail end of the 2004’05 season but a large chunk of 2005'06 campaign as well.
It said much for Kevin's determination and enthusiasm that he battled back to fitness much earlier than was expected and by the turn of the year, when many were expecting him to be merely making his first steps back from injury, Barra was rattling home a 91st minute winner against Livingston.
That unfortunately was about as much of a highlight as Kevin would enjoy that campaign as he endured something of a torrid time before the season was concluded.
Perhaps in retrospect his eagerness to return should have been tempered as he struggled to regain anything like the kind of form he had produced for 'Well in the past with a number of fans losing patience with him.
Kevin was left out of the side when the current season began but was quickly restored to the starting line up after 'Well opened with sucessive losses. Unfortunately Kevin was able to bring little to the team and soon found himself back on the sidelines and in the reserves with Steven McGarry being preferred on the right of midfield.
Chances to impress throughout the 2006'07 season were sporadic, with McBride making just two substitute appearances between November and early March.
Towards the back end of the season with 'Well seemingly safe, Maurice Malpas reintroduced Kevin back into the side even handing him a couple of games in his preferred central midfield role but it was still very much a case of in for one game, out the next for the midfielder.
Despite his failure to nail down a place the offer of a new contract with 'Well came Kevin's way but a fresh start in English football with Darlington proved more attractive to the player and having made 73 league and cup appearances over 3 seasons McBride's 'Well career came to a close. |