As a child he was used to football on a pitch called ‘The Slopey’ – but now Barry Maguire is watching his stock rise at Motherwell.
The versatile Scotland U21s international made his first start of the season for the Steelmen last week as they beat Ross County 4-0. He impressed manager Stephen Robinson during this encounter.
Now a prolonged period in the side is his aim. Robinson is short of defensive-minded players at the moment, so to have another academy product available to step up effectively is a boost.
“It’s a big positive getting on the park in the first place on Saturday,” said Maguire. “I feel like I did well and hopefully that’s good enough to get into the team again.
“I got a run-out with Scotland U21s and that that was a boost, especially after having a bit of time off that we shouldn’t have had. The first start is big for me, it’s something I’ve been trying to do all season.
“I just know that I have to bide my time and if I get the chance, try and take it, but I feel as if I did well on Saturday. I want to build on that now, take each game as it comes, and when I do get game-time try to do the best that I can.”
“We take the positives from that game and just go from there.”
A rise to this point hasn’t been handed to Maguire. As a youngster he spent time on the other side of Lanarkshire at Hamilton, but was unable to make the grade, dropping back to boys club football with Moorlands.
It was there Maguire caught the eye of Motherwell and he’s been there since he was 16. Now 22, he’s featured for his national team at youth level many times and played in claret and amber on Europa League duty.
The defensive midfielder says it’s a dream come true to have made it from street football to the highs his career has brought him so far: “I was at Hamilton Accies as a youngster for a few years.
“It didn’t work out, obviously, and I went back to boys’ club football before I took the step to Motherwell. I was at Calderbraes, then Hamilton.