By KEVIN CRAIGENS
CAMMY FARQUHAR is an electrician to trade.
But the keeper admits he only found his spark again after joining Newmains United.
The ex-Elgin and Lossiemouth No1 spent a few months away from the game after leaving Ashfield due to work commitments.
But a December move to Victoria Park saw Farquhar find his enthusiasm once more.
Co-managers Paul Davies and Craig Gupwell handed him the gloves and helped him settle into his new surroundings.
Farquhar said: “When I first moved down from Elgin I was playing for Ashfield. I had a year there but due to work commitments I was struggling to make training.
“As a result I fell away from football for a while so I took some time out. After a few months I found I was missing it so I got in contact with Newmains to ask if I could get involved in training. That led to me getting an opportunity with them.
“The managers have given me that little bit of confidence I was lacking because of my time out of football and have let me play my own game.”
Farquhar has been a keeper since he was at primary school but he reckons playing in the Highland League toughened him up from a young age.
He thinks coming through that school of hard knocks has helped him since moving south.
Farquhar said: “It was a good experience with a lot of decent players there. You had guys like Paul Lawson who ended up playing for Formartine and other ex-pros. It was good to test myself against better players.
“There was a guy at Lossie who was number one when I was coming through called Darren McConnachie. He was from Elgin as well and he was excellent for me.
“There were also players I played against who would have a word with you. Joe Malin was an ex-pro too and gave you a word of encouragement after games you played against him.
“I found the Highland League to be more physical and players were generally a wee bit fitter and stronger. But down here I think the football is maybe better technically in the way people can pass and strike a ball.”
Farquhar was always fascinated by goalkeepers - and paid attention to how they went about their business when he went to games with his dad.
He said: “Coming from Elgin I supported them but my dad was a Celtic fan so those were my two teams. Artur Boruc was someone I’d look up to.
“He always had that bit of madness about him and he threw himself into everything. That’s what I liked to see and I tried to copy it when I was growing up.”
