Welcome back Stuart!

Stuart took time out to speak to the club about his return to Forfar.

The Loons welcome back Stuart Malcolm to Station Park for the new season after the Falkirk based defender signed a one-year contract. Stuart’s previous clubs include St Johnstone, Cowdenbeath, Plymouth Argyle, Ross County, Alloa, Montrose, Arbroath and as well as time in the League of Ireland and two stints at Forfar where he played over 60 times for the Loons.  

Stuart spent last season with Stenhousemuir and while he is looking forward to returning to Forfar he admits it was a difficult decision to leave the Ochilview side.  

“Brown Ferguson was looking for me to move more into a coaching role but I was keen to keep playing. I am not going to lie; it was a hard decision because I enjoyed my time at Ochilview but for me continuing to play for as long as I can is important. So while I am still fit enough to train and compete in games I want to keep pulling on the shirt. I spoke to a number of retired footballers and they all said that once you stop playing you realise that you have been lucky to be doing what you are doing. So for me I wasn’t ready to make the big decision to call time on my playing career”.

Alastair Donald, the Forfar Chairman is very pleased with this latest signing. “I am personally delighted to have Stuart back at the club. He is a true leader and an inspiration on and off the park – we are a far better team and club with the likes of Stuart Malcolm in it.”

Forfar manager, Gary Bollan, and the Chairman played an important part in Stuart’s decision. “Obviously I knew Alastair from my earlier stint at the club and I know he and the Board work hard to run the club in a professional way. I knew Gary when I was a young lad at St Johnstone and also Stuart (Balmer) when we were both at Clyde.  I can see how Gary sets things up at the sides he has managed and how successful he has been in the past. The chance to play under Gary made a massive impact on my decision to re-join Forfar.  I know how professional Gary is and how he and his coaching team want things to run to a high standard. I admire that type of approach. At my stage in my career I am keen to see how a new manager works and how he can help me improve and get the most out of training sessions. So Gary was a big pull for me to come back to Forfar and I am looking forward to working with him.”

Stuart is also pleased to be joining up with some of the old guard - Gavin Swankie and Martyn Fotheringham - and he is delighted that some of the younger players such as Kerr Hay and Michael Kennedy have broken through into the first team on a regular basis. As far as Stuart is concerned things are looking positive for the new season. “It looks like things are bright with the new players Gary and his team have already brought in and the lads that are still there are great players. So it is all great news coming out of Station Park as the club prepares for the new season.”

While Stuart has no wish to speculate on what happened last year he was surprised to see the Loons drop down a league. “No one expected Forfar to end up where they were at the end of last season. From the outside it looks like it was a tough year for everyone at the club and I am determined to do my utmost to get Forfar back to League One where they should be.”

With a couple of Angus derbies to look forward to and a trip to the new kids on the SPFL block, Edinburgh City, Stuart cannot wait for the new season to start.  He has played for Montrose and most notably Arbroath and knows how exciting these matches can be whatever league the teams are competing in.

In order to extend his playing days, Stuart works hard to keep fit especially in the close season. Last year he did a lot of cycling and this year, to try something different, he has joined a boxing gym where he enjoys hard training sessions to keep him ticking over until the pre-season training starts.  As long as his boxing skills stay in the gym of course! 

In his short time away from Station Park, Stuart missed the people at the club the most. “The people at Forfar have always been great – both among my teammates and also behind the scenes like Martin (Gray) who keeps the place running!   Everyone I meet in football who has been up to Forfar really enjoys it because they are made to feel very welcome. As a player you appreciate how professional the club is even though it is part-time set-up. I always felt great about going to work there and I am keen to get back into action.”

The 36 year-old centre half was a popular member of the Forfar team that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship in 2015 and he hopes that he can play his part in helping the Loons get back up to League One next season. What happens after this year is not on his mind. Stuart acknowledges that his age may make some people raise an eyebrow and he is grateful to Gary for having faith in him for the season ahead and he knows keeping fit will be his main challenge but a challenge he relishes.  “For me my objective is to stay fit. I have never had a problem with that before because I work hard at it and I am very keen to make sure I am available for most games. If I do that then hopefully it will be enough to propel the team onto a successful season and also with my experience I want to help encourage the other boys on as well.”

Stuart is looking forward to playing in front of the Forfar fans again and believes they understand the type of player he has to be in the team.  “I have had a close affiliation with Forfar during my previous times at the club and it always felt that the fans were supportive of me. I may not be a flair player and at some clubs I was far from a fans’ favourite. But at Forfar I felt the supporters were on my side and they showed their support for the type of job I have to do as a centre-half which is not the most glamorous position in the team. So I am very happy to be coming back at Station Park and hope they will continue to support me and the club in the months ahead.”

Everyone wishes Stuart the very best on his return to Station Park for the new season.