Border Telegraph | Sport | Lawrie eyes up his future

Saturday, 26th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 12:00

Lawrie eyes up his future

By Ally McGilvray

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FORMER St Johnstone footballer Andy Lawrie is being chased by several clubs after his contract ran out this month.

The 29-year-old defender, from Galashiels, was forced to sit out the second half of the season at the Scottish Football League Division One club after being told he needed an operation to free a trapped nerve in his neck.

But, after undergoing an operation, he has now been given the all-clear to continue playing and is on the road to recovery.

The former Gala Academy pupil, who has just celebrated more than a decade with previous club Falkirk, returned home to the Gala Fairydean clubrooms at the weekend to mark the end of his testimonial year and thank everyone for their support.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph, Lawrie said: “It has been a really enjoyable year.

“Not a lot of players stay at a club for such a long time now. I think there have only been three players before me to play for Falkirk for more than ten years so it was a real privilege.”

Lawrie was rewarded for his loyalty with a glamour game for Falkirk in a 1-1 draw against Roy Keane’s Sunderland side which featured goal king Andy Cole, as well as former Celtic players Ross Wallace and Stan Varga, last year – despite having already signed for St Johnstone.

He played more than 250 games for the club, under various managers, won two league championships, as well as the Challenge Cup, and has been inducted into their Hall of Fame.

However, the former Hutchison Vale player’s career could have taken a different road after former Falkirk boss Jim Jefferies, now manager at Kilmarnock, forgot to pick him up for training in Lauder – and made him walk all the way back to Galashiels.

Lawrie said: “It’s a great honour to have played for Falkirk and be inducted into their Hall of Fame - that is something I can always look back on and no-one can ever take away.

“I think Falkirk are a perfect example for any up-and-coming team in Scotland because of the work they do both on and off the pitch.”

He added: “Some people say it’s the best job in the world but at the end of the day a jobs a job - you have your good times and your bad times.”

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