Liam McStravick programme article
Posted : 7th January 2023
‘Look at Linfield’ this week catches up with teenage prospect Liam McStravick who has excited the Windsor Park faithful in recent months and we started by asking the winger about his football journey to date and the decision to re-join the Blues last summer.
“I am from Glengormley and so I started my football journey with Greenisland FC. I didn’t play any matches during that time, though, and I then moved to my local team in Ardoyne. I played at Ardoyne for a few seasons and then I signed for Linfield. When I first came here, I played in the Linfield Academy and my dad coached me. I loved that, but then there was a time when I just wanted to play football with my mates and enjoy it with them and that’s why I moved to Cliftonville.
“I then returned back here in the summer. The manager was a big factor in that… he believes in me. I really appreciate that. He trusts me and that’s something that gives me lots of confidence. I know I am not the biggest, so I appreciate the faith he puts in me. If I take a few kicks then so be it. I feel like I am growing and developing physically now.”
It’s been a whirlwind few months for McStravick who celebrated his eighteenth birthday at the end of November. He came off the bench to score against Annagh United in the League Cup on his First Team debut in November and then scored his second senior goal in a 4-0 win over Dungannon Swifts a few weeks ago which, incidentally, came just 24 hours after he put pen to paper on a first Professional contract.
“I have been buzzing about that! It’s my first ever Professional contract, so it was a proud moment and again, I'm thankful for the manager putting his faith in me. I broke my pelvis around seven or eight months ago, so I was only getting back from injury when I signed here in the summer and I have been really enjoying it here ever since. This is my first taste of senior football. At times, yes, there has been interest from Clubs across the water in the past but I just brush it off. All I focus on is playing football.
“Scoring on my debut was a brilliant moment for me. I wasn’t nervous that night, not at all. I was actually just excited to get on the pitch and show what I am about. It was good to get my first league goal as well, against Dungannon a few weeks ago.”
Whilst the winger has burst onto the scene and earned plaudits from Linfield legends like Glenn Ferguson, Michael Gault, and his manager, David Healy, Liam remains grounded and understands that competition for places is significant in the Linfield squad.
“As always, I’d love to get more gametime against Warrenpoint today. That’s what I am aiming for and hopefully, I can train well and put myself in the manager’s thoughts. Anytime I am not selected, I absolutely understand one-hundred-percent. We have a really strong squad and lots of experienced players. I need to keep working hard and impress when I do get opportunities.
“I love playing for the Swifts too, getting more gametime under my belt and developing with the help of Michael Gault, Chris Kingsberry and the other coaches. Nothing has changed in that regard since I made my senior debut. I just like to play football and play my own game, and that’s it really.”
Liam has a promising future ahead of him in the game and with lots of big games ahead over the coming months, he can be relied on when he receives the call from David Healy, to step in to the first team to assist the club in the pursuit of trophies on all available domestic fronts.