You were born in Morecambe, yet the majority of your football career has been rooted in Scotland. What initially drew you to Scottish football, and what made you stay?
“Well, I had a couple of trials. I was at Hearts and Rangers on trial and quite enjoyed it up here. I also had a trial at Liverpool, but that fell through after about a month. Then I got a trial up at Dundee, where Simon Stainrod and Jim Duffy had just taken over. They signed me after a couple of days.
“From there, Dundee were my first professional club, so it was an eye-opening experience. The training was quite fitness-driven, which I didn’t mind because I was a fit boy anyway. I just loved it. I lived in Broughty Ferry, which was lovely, and it’s a great area of the UK to live in.”
After a couple of seasons at Dundee, you moved to Falkirk, where you became a club icon—captaining the team, lifting the Challenge Cup, and playing a key role in the Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Celtic.
Looking back, what does Falkirk mean to you, both personally and professionally? Given your lasting legacy at the club, how does it feel to still be held in such high regard by the fans today?
“Yeah, it was an honour to play for Falkirk. Initially, I wasn’t too enamoured with the move because I was quite settled at Dundee. But when a manager tells you that you’re not really in his plans and that he wants another player to come in while you go to Falkirk, you just have to accept it and see how things go.
“I had a great first game—we played Dumbarton—and it was a great introduction. But looking back, it was the best move I made.”
I have to ask about the Challenge Cup success in 1998 at Fir Park against Queen of the South. You’ve previously mentioned that it was a tough game. How do you reflect on that success now?
“How do I reflect on it? Well, I think it was just about doing our job. Queen of the South played really well; they were a very good team and knocked the ball around well.
“We defended astutely—myself and Kevin James at the back really kept the defence together, and we saw the game out. Luckily, we got our goal towards the end.
It’s absolutely wonderful getting your hands on any silverware. But the feeling isn’t about personal achievement; it’s about the team. You wouldn’t be in that position without every single player who played that night and throughout the season.
“We had a real sense of togetherness at Falkirk at that time. It was an emerging, mostly young team, with exceptions like Kevin McAllister, who brought experience. But you need that blend. It was just a wonderful time for me as a footballer.”
The 1997 Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic was a defining moment in Falkirk’s history. With the initial match leading to a replay, you faced a Celtic side packed with talent.
What are your standout memories from those games, and how did the team prepare for such a monumental challenge?
“We had great preparation. Alex Totten took us away to Troon for both games, and we just relaxed while staying focused on the task at hand.
“I remember being on TV for the draw, saying that we were a well-organised side and had every chance of beating Celtic—everyone laughed at me.
“But we prepared really well. We knew our jobs and exactly how to handle each player. Holding up Paolo Di Canio—he was going to twist and turn, but we knew he wasn’t going to cross it… until eventually, he did. But we had lots of bodies in the box with a desire to make sure that we could clear anything.
“We always knew we had a chance, but we had to perform at our absolute best to get anything from the game, which we did over both games.”
How do you reflect on the final against Kilmarnock, and how did Alex Totten prepare the team for such a big occasion?
“We kept things as normal as possible. I think we even went to Magaluf for a few days—had a bit of a relaxing time but also trained there. Everything was spot on before the game.
“But the match itself just didn’t go to plan. We couldn’t get going. Going into our first final, we weren’t really expecting it. Suddenly, we were being talked about as favourites—we were the better team and could pass the ball better than Kilmarnock.
“They scored from a corner, and we missed chance after chance. It wasn’t that we played poorly—we were just unlucky on the day. But credit to Kilmarnock as well, they were worthy winners of the Scottish Cup.”
After Falkirk, you joined Motherwell at a time when there was a lot of upheaval—significant investment, Billy Davies coming in, a lot of money being spent. What was that time like for you?
“It was a bit strange. At Falkirk, things were simple—you just knew the club inside out. It was a small, close-knit environment where everyone was involved.
“When I went to Motherwell, it was different. Willie McLean signed me when there wasn’t even a permanent manager in place. There was supposed to be one coming in, but it was uncertain.
“Then, after my first season, Harri Kampman moved aside, and Billy Davies was given the job. He signed guys like Andy Goram and John Spencer, which I think disrupted the wage structure. It became a bit of a volatile club at that time.”
You captained multiple clubs. Was leadership something that came naturally to you, or did you develop it over time?
“Not at all—it came with experience.
“When I first signed for Dundee, I was pretty quiet. Same at Falkirk, until some of the bigger characters—like John Hughes and Joe McLaughlin—left.
“When they moved on, I felt like I could take on that responsibility. I started organising, became more vocal, and it was just a natural progression.
“When you’re playing with younger lads, you need to help shape their game and make sure they understand what the manager wants from them.”
Which coaches had the strongest impact on you personally?
“Alex Totten and Jim Jefferies—by far.
“Alex Totten was an all-rounder—he’d take the team golfing, be your best mate one minute, then a father figure the next. But at half-time, he’d be kicking tea cups and screaming at people!
“Jim Jefferies did all the shouting and tough love, while Billy Brown handled the technical side—he’d whisper instructions in your ear about how to deal with specific opponents.”
Finally, Kevin, who would you pick out as your best teammates and toughest opponents?
“In terms of my teammates, I would pick out Kevin McAllister and Scott MacKenzie—both outstanding players in their own right. McAllister’s quality spoke for itself, while MacKenzie was an underrated but vital cog in the team, whose contributions often went unnoticed but were absolutely essential.
“My toughest opponents would have to be Laudrup and Larsson.
“Brian Laudrup was on another level—his skill, pace, and effortless dribbling made him almost unplayable at times.
“Henrik Larsson, meanwhile, was not only a clinical finisher but also incredibly intelligent in his movement. He had an aggressive edge to his game and would do whatever it took to retain possession. His ability to find space and ghost into dangerous positions made him a nightmare to defend against.”
Featured image: Falkirk Football Club
Callum McFadden 