James McFadden on mastering technique, his France stunner and the Springburn street football that sh

The control and set-up were skills honed on Galloway Street in Glasgow’s Springburn with endless games of heady-two-touch.

Even as a kid, James McFadden always had that in his locker.

But the power, elevation and trajectory that took the ball past French keeper Mickael Landreau?

That came from hard graft, practice and dedication.

After all, 10 years before the most memorable night of his life in Paris, a young Faddy could barely lift a shot off the ground.

The strike that sealed victory for Scotland in the Parc des Princes engraved his name into Scottish football folklore.

Iconic status among the Tartan Army was secured.

But anyone who thinks moments like that just came naturally to the last real maverick we had in our national team should think again.

They don’t know the hours he put in on concrete ground and red ash pitches. They don’t know about the sacrifices his dad Jim made to allow his boy to follow a dream.

They don’t know about the support he got from his mates when he refused to drink on a Friday night.

They don’t know about Bert Rowan’s commitment at West Park United in Bishopbriggs. They don’t know about Paul Smith’s belief in him at Motherwell.

They don’t know about how Mickey Weir helped turn him from a boy into a man.

That’s what helped McFadden do what he did in France that October night in 2007, when he reduced an entire nation to tears of joy.

And the man himself will never forget it.

That’s what makes him the perfect guy to help launch this year’s Sunday Mail/McDonald’s Grassroots Awards in association with the SFA.

McFadden had genuine ability. He’s one of the most prodigious talents of his generation.

That’s why he earned 48 caps for his country and played in the English Premier League.

But it didn’t just happen for him. Boy, did he have to work at it.

And he also had to rely on the kind of volunteers and role models who will be celebrated by us later this year at Hampden.

You might assume that in his younger years Faddy scored plenty of worldies like the one Landreau couldn’t keep out 13 years ago.

But not so.

In fact, if he had replicated any of his famous Scotland goals as a kid, it was more likely to be the one against Holland in that 2003 play-off game. The one-two with pal Darren Fletcher off the flank, cutting inside and firing past Edwin van der Sar.

Speaking exclusively to MailSport about his journey from Springburn to Scottish superstardom, McFadden said: “I used to joke about this with my brother Michael when we were young.

“If ever there was a cracking goal on the telly, I’d say: ‘I scored one like that today.’

“He just used to laugh, he never believed me. Then I’d tell him to ask my dad. You know what it’s like, in some boys club games the score would end up 15-0 and I might have got five.

“I used to score a lot when I was younger, coming off the wing.

“People obviously talk about the Paris goal but you know what, up until I was about 14 I didn’t have a lot of power.

“I didn’t have a powerful shot as I got older either.

“As a kid I found it hard to get the ball off the ground. So I didn’t take too many shots from a distance.

“I’d always try to use my dribbling instead.

“I wouldn’t even try long-range passes. From corners, I struggled to get purchase on the ball until I gradually mastered my technique.

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“I would get bored out on the wing, cut inside and take people on.

“I’d have been far more likely to score a goal like the Holland one at Hampden. Because I just didn’t have the power. I was wee and skinny. I only developed a bit of power as I got older.

“I probably got a few more long-range strikes off when I was 16 – but only because the goals got bigger and keepers didn’t seem as big in them.”

The two touches from Craig Gordon ’s massive kick-out was the easy bit for McFadden. Watch it again. How
he pulled it out of the Paris sky, and nudged it forward to tee up a shot, was outstanding.

And that ability was nurtured on the Glasgow streets.

We live in a different world these days, society has changed beyond all recognition. He accepts that.

His brother Michael, at 10 years old, used to take him on a bus from Springburn to Sighthill for a kickabout.

“And we were going through territories we shouldn’t have been anywhere near,” says McFadden.

That would just never happen now. But it doesn’t stop McFadden having a firm belief that kids nowadays need more time and space to express themselves with a ball at their feet.

As he remembered growing up in a housing scheme in the north of the city, he said: “We played football in the street, without age limit. Whoever was up for a kickabout played.

“If you could get involved with the older boys, great. But there were plenty of weans and loads of space.

“When the Springburn Astroturf was built, we’d climb the fence to get in.

“There were other wee ash parks but we’d mainly just play in the street.

“We’d use the lamp posts as goals. A typical scheme upbringing.

“I lived in Galloway Street and had loads of pals. It was always full of weans and there was always a game going on.

“Whether it was World Cuppy, a 10-21er, you name it. We used our imagination.

“We didn’t have goals or a perfect pitch. But we had kerbs and cars to run around. All different things we had to deal with. That just doesn’t happen now, they can’t do it. You didn’t realise it at the time but all of that was improving our technique.

“Think about heady-two-touch. God, I loved that game.

“You only had two touches – so they had to be good ones or you’d be heading it all the time.

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“Even defensively, if you could control someone’s shot with one touch and get a shot away yourself with the next – those wee things would improve you.

“At the time, you’re not thinking about your technique.

“It’s just about winning the game.

“Kids don’t get that upbringing now because they don’t go out. I get it, parents want their children in a safe environment – I’ve four myself so I know how that feels.

“But we used to go out in groups of two or three. We’d be out all day and wouldn’t want to be in the house.

“We hated it when it started to get dark because we didn’t want to go home.”

McFadden was mesmerised by the Italia ‘90 World Cup as a kid at St Aloysius Primary School.

He even had a pal, Graham Dorrans’ brother Andy, who was nicknamed Scillachi after Italian striker Toto.

When his own brother Michael got him involved at Celtic North Boys Club, McFadden developed a desire and ambition to be a footballer.

At 14, he’d signed an S-Form with Hearts and was training with Motherwell. That’s when dad Jim knew his boy had a chance.

Faddy said: “I started playing in an organised team when I was about eight, down at The Cage in Sighthill.

“Nobody liked going there but we loved it for that very reason.

“It was a red ash pitch and that’s what we were used to. If you were lucky enough to get to a cup final, you might get to play on grass.

“In fact, when I first trained with Motherwell at 12, we were indoor under the south stand. We’d go there on a Tuesday night with trainers on in the gym, playing five-a-sides.

“My dad was a huge influence. He played amateur football and was a good player for Colston.

“I remember going to watch him train or play. I’d go and support him.

“I always thought he was the best player, as you do as a young boy.

“When I started playing and had to go here, there and everywhere, dad had to give that up to take me.

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“He did that to help me. You don’t realise that sacrifice at the time. Then it hits you when you grow up and do it yourself as a parent.

“He’d drive me everywhere. Before Sat Nav in the car, you’d get lost all the time.

“And I’d moan: ‘C’mon Da, I’m going to be late again.’

“I didn’t understand the sacrifices he made for me. Without that, I’d have found it difficult.

“My dad used to get me stuff when I needed it. I can’t imagine how hard it would have been for both of my parents.

“We didn’t have a lot of money and they had to get me everywhere. I’ll always be grateful for that.

“You’d have one pair of boots for the ash pitches but then if you got to a cup final on grass, my dad would say: ‘You need studs.’

“He got me a pair of Mitres and I thought: ‘What are they?’ My dad would say, they’re good soft leather, they’ll do the job!

“As I got older, he made sure I had the best boots I could get. Because it was getting a wee bit serious and I had a talent – he’d get me them, by whichever way necessary.”

When McFadden turned up at Fir Park, he had that eccentric talent he’d later become renowned for.

He was an individual who just wanted to beat people and needed the freedom to do it.

That came in the shape of coach Paul Smith whom he’s still in contact with today.

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James said: “The gallus streak I had probably came from the streets in Springburn. I was playing with older guys who were kicking me all the time.

“Everyone wanted to dribble and score goals when I was young. Thegoalie was always the worst player. Sometimes you just had a backie, with no keeper.

“I just seemed to have a knack for dribbling and taking people on. Everybody was greedy. But in a game of World Cuppy, there was one guy in and 10 outfield. So to get your goal you had to beat 10 men.

“So in these games, the best dribblers were the best players.

“And it’s amazing to think that, years later as a professional, when I scored goals where I’d maybe dribbled past two or three, that was honed in those wee games.

“Paul was another big influence on me at Motherwell. He believed in me. He liked me because I was the wee cheeky one. He liked the type of person, the type of player I was.

“If it wasn’t for Paul, I probably wouldn’t have gone to Motherwell and things might have worked out differently.”

McFadden went on to have a terrific career at Well, Everton, Birmingham City and back at Fir Park. After starring for his country, he then coached them as part of Alex McLeish’s backroom staff.

He’s well aware of the importance of grassroots football in this country. His own sons are part of it now. He’s in awe of the countless volunteers and coaches who give up their time to help kids.

But he has urged all of them never to forget why they got into sport in the first place. Fun.

For McFadden, that’s something that should never be sacrificed.

He said: “The organisation and time that volunteers give up is amazing. I admire them for it.

“But I look at some wee boys and girls now not having as much fun as they should be. The fun element should never be taken out of it.

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“Back when we played on the ash pitches, it was bumpy with holes you had to dodge but all that helped with your game. And it was fun.

“There were 20 around me at times and I’d to dribble my way out. Now we’ve big pitches and bigger boys stand out because they’re more athletic, cover more ground.

“At times, we can over-coach them. The reason we all play the game is because we love it.

“I still turn up on a Wednesday and a Friday for a game of six-a-sides – because I love playing.

“The time people give up is incredible, I tip my hat to them.

“But it’s important at times to take a step back, get back to our roots and appreciate what kids enjoy doing most – and that’s playing the game.”

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