Before joining Airdrieonians, you grew up in Northern Ireland and played for Cliftonville and Linfield. How much did you learn coming through the youth system at those clubs?
“It was always tough. I wanted to play for my boyhood club, Cliftonville, but breaking through was difficult because several senior players were in my position.
“Then, interest came from Linfield, and I knew the manager, David Healy, rated me highly. I wanted to be somewhere I was valued, so at 18, I saw Linfield as the perfect opportunity. I went there with high hopes, aiming to break into the first team. When I got my chance, I seized it and have been pushing forward ever since.”
David Healy is an icon in Northern Ireland for his achievements with the national team. What was he like to work with?
“David was brilliant. He was always helping me, especially with my attacking game—working on scoring goals and increasing my assists. He was a great mentor. Despite being a big figure in Northern Irish football, he was down-to-earth. Being around him, every day was a valuable experience. It was also great to be around Linfield’s first-team players, as they helped build my confidence.”
The Irish League is extremely competitive, and you played in both the league and cup games. How did you feel competing at that level?
“I made my debut in the League Cup quarter-finals, which was a big moment for me. I was 17 at the time, and I came on and scored. I thought, ‘This is going to give me a better chance now.’ Interestingly, I was actually sick that day—really sick. We were playing on a Saturday, and David told me to rest up, saying, ‘You’re not in the squad because you’re sick, but come down and be around the team.’ It worked out well because I ended up missing two or three squads after that.
“Then I got back in when we were playing Crusaders at half-past five on a Saturday night, which is a big fixture in the Irish League. I came on for the last 20 minutes, and it was an incredible experience. The game ended 0-0, but I remember playing well. After that, I played four or five league games and came on against the Glens at the Oval in the League Cup semi-final, which got us into the final.
“It was all a brilliant experience, being 17 or 18 years old and playing for Linfield’s first team. Linfield is the biggest club in Northern Ireland, so those experiences were invaluable. I seized those opportunities, and they have helped me get to where I am today.”
What was the motivation behind your move to Airdrieonians and Scottish football?
“In my last season, I spoke with Linfield about staying on. I played in Europe for the last five or ten minutes of a match and had high hopes for myself. But after Europe, I did not get much playing time. I did not even get a look-in during the first few league games of the season. So, I told myself I needed to either go out on loan or find somewhere else to play.
“Then Airdrie came along—Rhys, the gaffer, wanted me to join. I love the way he plays football, and Airdrie offered me the chance to play regularly. That is what I wanted at an early age: to play men’s football. The younger you start, the better your chances. So, when the opportunity with Airdrie came up, I jumped at it. I had no problem moving over either. It is something I have always wanted—to go across the water, stay there, and hopefully make it long-term.”
Rhys McCabe is known for his commitment to playing football the right way and has earned praise in Scotland for his approach. What is it like working with him on the training ground and on match days?
“Oh, the gaffer’s superb. He is like one of the players—a mate, if you know what I mean. He is down-to-earth, and considering the career he has had—playing in an Old Firm game and all—that is something I dream of doing. So, to say the gaffer is not brilliant would not be fair. He is fantastic with the boys, and his style of play is unbelievable. It suits me perfectly because he emphasises getting the ball down and playing football, which is ideal for someone like me who loves to get on the ball and make things happen.
“I remember making my debut at Dundee United last season. I had only been training for a few days and did not expect to start. But one of the boys pulled up with an injury, and the gaffer just pulled me out of the changing room and said, “You’re in.” My eyes lit up—it was my debut, up at Tannadice, in front of 10,000 fans. I remember doing well that day, and that moment really kickstarted my Airdrie career. I have loved every minute of it since.”
Last season was a strong one for you, with the team performing well in the league and then winning the SPFL Trust Trophy in the final against The New Saints, where you scored a fantastic goal. How proud were you of that moment? Winning any trophy so early in your career must have been incredible.
“It was a great experience for the group of boys. After last season, where we pushed for promotion but fell short, winning a trophy felt like the least we deserved. We did really well as a team, and to get my hands on a trophy at 19, so early in my career, was brilliant. On a personal note, it was also a wonderful day for me.”
You scored in the final that day. I was covering that game, and it was an incredible finish. As soon as the ball left your foot, did you think it was going in?
“We played a direct pass from the back, and the ball just fell in front of me. To be fair, I had easier chances earlier that I should have taken, but this time I just thought, “Nah, just hit it.” I struck it with my right foot, and it went into the top corner—you cannot complain about that. My celebration was just grabbing the ball to get back into play because we had momentum, and I wanted us to keep pushing. So, it was not really about celebrating, more about keeping the pressure on.”
Winning the trophy and having your family by your side must have been a special moment?
“It was brilliant, especially for my mum and dad. They traveled to a lot of games when I first moved over. My dad, in particular, has been there since I was a young boy, driving me to training and matches. He has been a big part of getting me to where I am today. So, for him, it was a special moment. He loved coming up, getting a photo with the trophy, and I think he sent it to everyone he knows (laughs).”
Finally, Liam, you are only 19 yet you have achieved so much already. What are your hopes for the next few years?
“My first aim is getting back from injury now, then hopefully, I can push on and get a few starts and push on from there.
“I am focused on continuing to push forward at Airdrie, getting more minutes and starts, and seeing where that takes me. I do not want to put too much pressure on myself—I am still young and just taking it day by day.
“Obviously, I want to play at the highest level possible as my career progresses, but I know that I can only achieve that by working as hard as possible every day and learning as much as possible from my coaches and teammates.”
Featured image courtesy of Liam McStravick
Callum McFadden 