Reflecting on your playing career, you came through the ranks at Celtic and broke into the first team at a young age. What stands out to you when you think back on your time at the club?
“To be honest, when you’re growing up and want to play football at a professional level, getting the opportunity to play for Celtic was unbelievable for me.
“I always felt fortunate to have that chance every day. Many people dream of playing at the highest level, and I got to do that. I played in a couple of Old Firm games and really enjoyed the experience.
“But, you know, when you’re not getting regular first-team football, and that’s ultimately the goal, you sometimes need to move on. It turned out well for me to move, and I thank the late Tommy Burns for that.
“He was the one who pretty much told me it was time to leave. At the time, I didn’t agree, but in hindsight, he was right. I needed to go and get first-team football.
“I didn’t look back after that, and I like to think I had a good career at Dundee.”
You had the chance to play alongside some incredible players, like Paul McStay, one of Celtic’s greatest. What was it like to share the pitch with him and other key figures at the club?
“Throughout my career, I was lucky to play with some fantastic pros, and Paul was definitely one of them. I’ve kept in touch with him a couple of times since I left. He’s not only great on the pitch but also a really good guy off it.
“I was fortunate to be surrounded by players like Paul, Peter Grant, John Collins. As a defender, I also looked up to Tony Mowbray too. It was a privilege to learn from these guys.
“I feel really lucky to have had that experience early in my career, learning from some of the best players at the time.”
Looking back at your long association with Dundee, where you captained the team to a First Division title in 1998 and stayed for over a decade, how proud are you of what you achieved during that time?
“Being part of a club for that long was brilliant. I was speaking to someone the other day about how I never really wanted to leave. Even if there were better opportunities elsewhere, I was happy and settled at Dundee, and sometimes that’s more important than chasing something new.
“The achievements we had speak for themselves—getting promoted and staying in the Premier League for several seasons. Under Jocky Scott, we even finished in the top six, which was one of the club’s best finishes.
“What I’m most proud of is that I played under several managers and continued to be selected week in, week out. It makes you feel like you’ve done a good job.”
When you moved into management at Dundee, you faced an extraordinary challenge with a massive points deduction. Despite that, you went on an incredible 23-game unbeaten run to save the club from relegation. How do you reflect on that period?
“I was very fortunate, although a lot of people lost their jobs, and I got promoted into a difficult situation. You have to show humility when others are losing their jobs, but I was given the responsibility of helping a club in real trouble.
“Looking back, it wasn’t just down to me. The supporters were incredible, especially with their fundraising efforts to keep the club afloat. The people behind the scenes, like chief executive Harry MacLean, allowed me to do my job and get the best out of the players.
“It was always going to be a tough task, but credit goes to the players. Many of them played through injuries, and we signed guys who hadn’t been playing or weren’t fully fit, but they all gave everything.
“That season was a success not just for me but for everyone involved. Managing a team that I had been with and loved throughout my playing career was special, but it was a collective effort.”
You also had a unique experience playing in Iceland with Valur, where you helped the team win their first league title in 20 years. How did you find the football culture in Iceland, and what did that achievement mean to you?
“It was a fantastic experience. I went to Iceland without any real expectations, not knowing what to expect. But the standard of football was improving, and I think that period was the start of Iceland’s football renaissance.
“Many of the younger players I played with at the time went on to make the senior national team, and I think that was the beginning of Iceland emerging as a footballing nation.
“For me personally, winning the league was a great achievement. I still keep in touch with many of the people there, including the chairman of the club.
“It was exactly what I needed after being at Dundee for so long. It was a breath of fresh air and probably extended my playing career by a couple of years because I was enjoying football again. Iceland is a beautiful country with lovely people, and embracing a new culture was a rewarding experience.”
At Alloa, you managed to achieve significant milestones, like leading the team to a Challenge Cup final and becoming the first Alloa manager to beat Rangers. How do you evaluate your time in charge there?
“Success is measured in different ways, and for Alloa, success was about survival in the league. In my first season, keeping them up was an accomplishment in itself.
“In the second season, we reached the Challenge Cup final, and I believe it was the first time the club beat Rangers—and possibly Hibs as well.
“It was a tough league, especially with Hearts, Hibs, and Rangers all in the same season, but I think we managed to succeed given the circumstances.
“Alloa is a great community club, and the chairman, Mike, was fantastic to me. I really enjoyed the challenge of managing there, going up against top teams and doing what we could with the resources available.”
Finally, Barry, in recent years, you also had the opportunity to work in Canada at York United, taking on a role as an assistant coach in a relatively new league. What was that experience like, and how did it compare to your previous coaching roles?
“The Canadian Premier League is still very young—it’s only five years old now—so there was a lot to learn. I initially went over to help the club, but I also worked closely with the owner and CEO, providing input on ways to improve things. Hopefully, they took some of those ideas on board.
“It was a great experience working with different people and learning new methods and perspectives.
“The biggest challenge was the travel. You’d have to take five-hour flights to games, with a three-hour time difference. That was tough on the body, and it made preparation more difficult at times.
“But overall, it was a positive experience. I went there to learn and try new things, and I feel like I came back as a better person and coach because of it. The only downside was being away from my family, which is why I eventually returned home.”
Featured image: “Barry Smith (cropped)” by User:Dgxwasp is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Callum McFadden 