Andrew Barrowman: MyPsyche

“Football is so relentless and like a hamster wheel. You’re constantly under pressure, constantly looking at the next thing and you can’t really enjoy the successes,” said Andrew Barrowman, reflecting on a footballing playing career that took him from the academy system at Rangers to spells across England and Scotland before transitioning into senior leadership roles at Kelty Hearts and Raith Rovers.

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Like many, Barrowman’s footballing journey began early and it wasn’t before long that he began to draw attention.

“Playing boys club football aged 8, I was scoring a lot of goals. I was always a striker, always have been and a local scout came to a game and invited me along to Rangers and I was then there from 8 until I left school at 16.”

At that age, it didn’t feel like a sacrifice.

“Initially, training three nights a week, matches at the weekend, at that stage it was all just about having fun.

“Then as I got older I realised that the pathway for youngsters and myself wasn’t really going to be there, it was a different time for Rangers then under Dick Advocaat. I remember they brought in a striker who was 15 for £250,000 and it was harder for youngsters to get to that first team than it is now, although some managed it.

“It all felt a bit disconnected though. John Brown was the full time academy person then, invited me for a week training with the older pros and it almost felt as if I was on trial or the coaches were using it to learn who I was as a player. I’d been there for eight years already though, I felt that they should know whose coming through at the academy anyway.”

That clunky introduction to the senior level at Rangers saw Andrew keen to see what other potential opportunities would be out there for him and his best pathway.

“I was also playing for Scotland schoolboys against the likes of England and Wales and at that point a few scouts became aware of me — the likes of Newcastle, Leeds and Birmingham.

“I got a good feel for Birmingham, went down a few weekends and felt as if they pushed the boat out and made me feel wanted and as if I would do well in the English Championship. In my head and speaking to family, they were obviously a big club but not too big for me to not make it and get lost. They also offered me a commitment to a professional contract. Down there, you couldn’t sign professional terms until you were 17 and I wasn’t 17 until that November so even though I started out on a scholarship, they made the commitment to give me a three year pro contract. The fact only me and one other boy were offered this, it made me feel wanted and showed me that they thought there was a genuine pathway for me.

Whilst game-time ultimately proved to be limited for Andrew at Birmingham, it was an integral part of his development as a person and a player. After dipping his toes in competitive senior football with loan spells at the likes of Blackpool and thereafter signing for Walsall, Kilmarnock and Queen of the South, a period in the Highlands of Scotland with Ross County saw Andrew’s career truly ignite.

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“The best spell of my career was probably at Ross County. The first season I had there I scored 29 goals and then in 2010, after playing for Inverness, I signed again in the January and we got to the Scottish Cup Final and beat Celtic in the semi.

“The whole team were at a pretty similar stage in our careers, the club signed players who had maybe had a knock elsewhere at a higher level but were still at the age where they had time and belief that they could move up the levels. Also, when you’re staying up there in the Highlands, there’s a lot of socialising together, round at each other’s houses. Some stayed together and some would come round for dinner every night, there was a real sense of togetherness in that sense which really helped.”

Beating Celtic in the semi final at Hampden, in hindsight, Andrew revealed was one of the highest points of his career and a result he believed was cleverly manufactured.

“It sounds easy to say now, but we genuinely believed we’d win the Celtic game. We were just so relaxed beforehand, stayed overnight at the Westerwood Hotel before the game, which gave us a chance to have a laugh and be around our mates. Because most of the squad was around 26/27, the size of the occasion maybe went over our heads a bit, there was probably slight cockiness and arrogance that we could take advantage of the slump they were having.

“(The game plan) was all about ourselves, Derek Adams was very meticulous, very methodical so we had the confidence that we’d very well set up regardless of the opposition. We beat Hibernian as well in the quarter final to get into the semi, which made us think it’s Celtic, what is there to lose?”

“I remember getting in at half time and there was a genuine excitement and confidence that the game plan was working and it was 0–0. We had done so well in that first half and really began thinking we could go on and win this game.”

The Final however, against Dundee United, didn’t quite go as to plan courtesy of a Dundee United assist from the Icelandic Eyjafjallajökull (a volcano, not a footballer).

“Dundee United were a strong team and a lot of that squad went on to have a good career, but I just didn’t feel it was a 3–0 game. They scored their first goal in the 60th minute, a David Goodwillie lob from a mistake from us, and we just didn’t do ourselves justice in that game. We were better than we showed. I remember playing up front and barely even touching the ball.

“There was a lot of stuff in the build up that disrupted our preparation, we were supposed to be going away for five days warm weather training in Spain, but the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano erupting meant that we couldn’t travel and had to stay in Dingwall instead!

“Also our season in the Championship had finished three or four weeks before the final whilst Dundee United were still match fit and playing those weeks. There was obviously massive disappointment to lose that final, but beating Celtic in the semi was in some ways our final. It was a massive result, will go down in history and it’s testament that it still gets talked about now.”

Whilst Andrew talks about the the love and passion he had whilst playing at Ross County, towards the end of his career, with one eye focussing on life after football, that flowing feeling began to shift.

“I always prided myself on being a good pro, living life the right way off the pitch. I wasn’t necessarily going to dribble by four players, but I always tried to be the fittest at every club I was at. Because I was playing that target man role, physically I was strong, but a lot of that was down to how dilligently I prepared.

“I’d started my degree and was maybe a year away from finishing and after Dunfermline I felt ready to move on. In hindsight, I probably should have retired but ended up signing for Albion Rovers. Darren Young persuaded me to sign, but even in the first call I said I didn’t know if I wanted to play. I had sort of lost the fire in the belly and was a year away from finishing my degree (Sport and Business Management). Looking back my body also just couldn’t adjust to part-time football. If I was training 7pm, do I have my dinner before or after? I just couldn’t get into the rhythm with these simple things. I then started picking up little niggles, hamstring and calf injuries. I didn’t do myself justice and felt I was a waste of a signing for Darren even though he would tell me I wasn’t and said he felt I was important to the dressing room.

“I remember we had a game against Peterhead around March (2016) and even though we were winning 1–0, I just kept asking the ref how long there was to go because I just didn’t want to be there. I spoke to my dad, who always went to my games, got in the car and gave him a phone and he said he could tell I didn’t want to be there. He’d watched me from 8 years old, knows me better than I probably know myself. At that point I sort of knew it was time to just call it a day at the end of that season.”

Upon completing his degree, Andrew then entered the world of business initially with sport manufacturers Joma and then ticked off an ultimate aim of working in the business and commercial side of a football club in the shape of Kelty Hearts.

“I always had that itch to be involved in football and felt it was a part-time role and not a full-time one that would take over my life. When Kelty spoke to me, they were a Lowland League side (got promoted that summer 2021) so it would give me the opportunity to make mistakes and learn at that level.

“The model at that point was very much owner-funded because he had put a lot of money into it. The owner had a plan that he wanted to get to League One and he felt he had to invest, perhaps over invest, at the beginning to get there as quick as possible to then make it sustainable. My remit was to try and take away the reliance of a cheque being written every month by the owner to being a club that can develop on and off the pitch and see the club stand on its own two feet. At that point, it was running on steroids and was not sustainable.

“We tried to insert a bit more control over costs — the players wages, the kit side of thing. We obviously had a good budget, the biggest in League Two at the time, but we also tried to get real value from that budget and utlised the loan market and built good relationships with clubs like Aberdeen with Connor Barron (now at Rangers) and Jack Milne (Scottish Cup 2025 winner with Aberdeen).

“We were putting all these things in place that maybe is not exciting to people on the outside but allowed us to get another 700 fans which brings in another £20,000 which was important. It’s a very well run club now.”

After the owners, aiming to allow Kelty to become established in League One, felt as if they had taken the club as far as they could, a full-time opportunity at Raith Rovers came about which Andrew was keen to pursue. If Kelty proved to be an opportunity to learn about the growth and development of a community and football club, Raith Rovers allowed Andrew for insight into him as a person and the conditions he needs to thrive.

“I learnt a lot. I stopped working on myself a bit and stopped prioritising myself and my own learning. Even physically and relationships with family, all of it was getting sacrificed because I was so focussed on doing a good job. I’d like to think if I had the opportunity in the future I’d have a bit more focus on continuing my own development. It’s not really until you take a breath to realise. When I came out of that job I was physically broken and ill. My body almost just broke down after months and months of stress because that just became my normal.”

Now, as joint owner and Managing Director of The Soccer Shop: Direct, Andrew is using his lessons learnt from a successful career in football — both on and off the pitch, helping him be a better performer, but person first and foremost.

‘There’s still that pressure to pay the bills, but not the constant public judgment of if you win you’re good at your job, if you lose it’s all your fault. There’s maybe not that same intense pressure here but there’s still responsibility that comes with having nine employees and that’s something I thrive on.

“I’m now more conscious of self-reflection and try take a step back to look at myself more than I did before. It is critical and a conscious effort, I now know there’s different systems and processes you can put in place to help with this. All these things I felt I was sacrificing before actually make you a better leader and, in fact, aid your performances.”

What would Andrew learn for next time if he was to work in the frontline of football operations again?

“Well the type of person I am is all in. These are lessons I have certainly learned, but if I am in a job in the future am I 100% certain I’ll be any different? I’d like to think so, but the relentless nature of football is addictive. The first few months of coming out of a job I felt as if my brain and body was just craving that relentless pressure I’d been use to. I’m a lot more balanced now and don’t really miss it at this point. I’ve had opportunities to go back into Scottish football, down south and in Ireland, but I couldn’t think of anything worse right now. I’m not saying in the future that will be the case, but I’m happy with my life right now, what I’m doing and getting to see more of the kids. I’ve actually been helping out my son’s football team with coaching and these wee things have helped me be more present.

“My wife is more happy now that it’s actually like I’m mentally in the room with her.”

Quick-fire Questions

Describe yourself in three words: Hard-working, determined and ambitious

How would your family and friends describe you in three words: Intense, all-in and honest

Are you more introverted or extroverted? Edge towards extrovert

Biggest personality strength? Determination, I like to achieve and get things done.

Biggest personality weakness? Emotional control. I can wear heart on sleeve a bit too much.

What is your death row meal?

Starter — Scallops

Main — Steak and chips, medium rare.

Dessert — Affogato.

Drink — Cloudy bay pinot grigio, white wine.

Who would play you in a movie? Matt Damon.

Best moment of your life and career? Kids being born, wedding day. Professionally, lots of highs like that Scottish Cup Semi Final.

Most challenging moment of your life and career? Lots of challenges, maybe coming back from rejection when younger

Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? What’s for you won’t go by you. My mum would always say it in the house and now she does with my kids