You can go to some unusual places in a conversation with Barney Stewart. Our discussion starts with his goal-scoring adventures for Heriot-Watt University, where one man and a dog felt like a bumper crowd, and concludes with talk—however fanciful—of him playing for Scotland against Brazil in the World Cup in Miami this summer. By the time you shake hands with the engaging Falkirk forward, you are reminded that unusual and inspiring stories still exist in an increasingly homogenous football world.
A Unique Path to Professional Football
Born in London to a Scottish father and a mother who studied in Aberdeen, Stewart scarcely got a sideways glance from senior clubs in his schooldays. 'I wasn't that serious about football to be honest,' he explained. 'I was just doing school as usual. I was playing different sports. It was never really that predominant in my life.' His decision to move to Edinburgh to study Sports and Exercise Science was sealed by family connections and the opportunity to join the university's football scholarship programme.
Combining his studies with games for Heriot-Watt in the East of Scotland First Division was the point where talent belatedly met opportunity. 'There's a lot of unis in Scotland that don't have scholarship programmes in place,' Stewart said. 'They just play football, but they don't take it too seriously. But our manager took it really seriously. I was fortunate enough to be on a strict schedule, even though I was at university.'
Scoring for Fun
It was quickly evident that he was playing at a level below his ability. Asked if he was scoring goals for fun, he smiled: 'I wouldn't stretch it to five or six, but I'd say probably averaging two to three a game. In 35 games, I got 50 goals I think, which is all right. But obviously, I'm playing people that are probably hungover from a Friday night. So, it was a little bit different. But the goals are still the same size, so it all counts.'
A man who always trusted his eye for a player soon identified Stewart's potential. 'I think there was a couple of clubs interested at the time and I went in to see a few,' Stewart explained. 'I went into Falkirk and I instantly knew that that was sort of the best suited club for me. I spoke to the gaffer, John McGlynn, and he was very welcoming. He said he liked what he saw. So, I knew straight away just to sign with Falkirk.'
Making His Mark at Falkirk
Stewart remained in the second tier on loan with Dunfermline for the first half of this season before making his mark with 10 goals upon rejoining the Bairns in January. He has long since left the imposter syndrome behind. 'Yeah, I think that went towards the end of last season, especially when we won the league,' he said. 'The group of boys was so together, they just made you feel a part of it.'
His ties with Heriot-Watt have become frayed yet are not yet severed. If there's a way for him to complete his degree while playing professionally, he'd like to find it. 'I've been trying to hang in there, but it's very difficult, especially with everything going on at the minute,' he explained. 'But I do need to have a meeting with uni just about plans and see basically what's going on. There are times when things won't go so well and you might need to fall back on it.'
World Cup Dreams
From university football to the World Cup in two years feels like the script from the fevered imagination of a comic book writer. For many reasons, it remains highly unlikely. Yet the fact it's even a discussion is wondrous enough. 'I think it's bonkers personally,' said Stewart. 'If some people want to put my name in the conversation, they can. It's an honour to hear. But I do think it's personally out of view right now.'
What we do know is that Stewart is a viable option for Steve Clarke. That fact alone should be celebrated. 'Hopefully, my move might have given a couple of other boys opportunities that maybe people would actually come and look at that level,' he offered.
