Scottish Communities League Cup: Craig Samson reflects on long journey from building site to labour of love

By Ewing Grahame

11:59PM GMT 15 Mar 2013

CommentsComment

The 43-year-old was a journeyman during his playing career with Dundee, Falkirk, Morton, Linfield and Peterhead but has excelled as a coach and is now works for the Scottish Football Association as well as the Paisley club.

Since Samson linked up with him in 2010 he has become a regular first team player in the top tier for the first time since turning pro in 2001 and he also credits Mathers for helping him earn him two call-ups to the Scotland squad.

Indeed, so influential has Mathers been that Samson now intends to emulate his mentor by becoming a coach himself.

“He’s been a massive influence on me,” said the 28-year-old. “I’ve known him for a number of years but he’s helped me in a big way ever since I started working with him when I joined the club.

“It’s great to have someone who’s been there and done that to sit down and talk with. Anything that’s happened to me has also probably happened to him as well.

“Paul is also able to analyse why mistakes have been made and how to try and void them happening again.

“When I came to St Mirren it gave me my first taste of being the first-choice ‘keeper with an SPL club and I wouldn’t have been able to play at this level – and be called up by Scotland – if it wasn’t for him.

“His attention to detail is incredible. There are small things which, during the heat of a game, you would never even notice but he doesn’t miss anything and that’s been beneficial to myself and the other guys.

“As a result of working with him I’ve started doing coaching badges myself. Paul is involved with the course but Jim Stewart is the man who oversees it and it’s something I’ve become very interested in.

“When I began my career with Kilmarnock it was the senior goalkeepers, Gordon Marshall and Colin Meldrum, who helped me out and it’s definitely something I would like to do in the future.”

Some argue that the stability at St Mirren Park, where Danny Lennon has been in place for three years, will give the Paisley club an advantage over Hearts, who have yet to replace John MvGlynn, who was sacked last month: Samson is not so sure.

“They won the Scottish Cup last season and, although they’ve lost quite a few players from that side, they’ll be full of confidence because they’re not facing one of the Old Firm,” he said.

“John McGlynn blooded a lot of youngsters due to the restrictions hewas forced to work under but that can work in their favour because teenagers are fearless.

“We’ve done it the hard way, winning at Aberdeen on penalties and then beating Celtic in the semis. That almost felt as though we’d won the cup itself but we know that’s not the case and the job still has to be done.”

Samson will at least savour the occasion more than most of his peers at the national stadium, as he recalls his previous employment.

“When I left Ayr United in 2010 I spent the summer labouring on a building site with my dad just to put food on the table and pay the bills,” he said.

“Hampden seemed a million miles away then but I always believed in my ability and, with Paul’s help, I’ve managed to get there.

“I turned pro with Kilmarnock in 2001 and I feel as though the last 12 years has been building up to this moment.”

Taken from telegraph.co.uk