Arfield: ‘this is a big challenge’

Scott Arfield loves a challenge, and he is excited about helping save Livingston from the dreaded drop. They currently prop up the rest in the William Hill Premiership.

The 37-year-old recently said goodbye to Falkirk, where he began his professional career, but was becoming a bench-warmer second time round and he desperately wanted game time.

He signed for the club situated less than a mile from the hospital where he was born. Arfield actually grew up in the former New Town, and played for Murieston United CFC during his formative years.

That’s before he joined Falkirk before moving to Huddersfield Town, Burnley, Rangers, Charlotte FC in North America’s Major League Soccer, and then Bolton Wanderers, before returning to play for The Bairns.

He has also played for Canada because his father was born in Toronto, making him eligible after being overlooked by Scotland’s senior team bosses despite playing for national youth squads, including the under-21s.

Versatility is one of affable Arfield’s best attributes. He can play centrally or on the flanks, and even in his cameo performance on his debut after 78 minutes for Livingston, in the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at The Home of the Set Fare Arena, he showed energy and glimpses of creativity.

Livi fans game him a warm welcome as he warmed-up pre-match and just before coming on and Arfield has made his mark in senior soccer.

A notable achievement helping solidify Burnley’s place in England top tier, a major boost for the men from Turf Moor.

Now, he has an appetite to help Lions boss, David Martindale, achieve his ambition of keeping the club in the top echelon of Scottish football.

Addressing the media for the first time at Almondvale, he explained that he left Falkirk due to a lack of game time.

The first six months, when he went back to Falkirk for a second spell, was a fairy tale, he said, and the outcome was satisfying. Falkirk were crowned champions and he played a part  in taking the Central Scotland outfit back to the top division.

Overall, he does not know how long he has left, but one thing is abundantly clear, he is desperate to keep playing and promised: “I have still got moments (in me) and I still have the love of the game.”

The challenge at Livingston is, he argued, the same as he had at Falkirk, and he said: “It is a massive challenge, but I would not have come here if I did not feel I could contribute.“

Arfield also has, what he called, “a relationship with the manager” who he has known since he was a young boy and also Whitburn-born, ex-Hibs and Brian Rice, nicknamed Chipper, who was his first assistant manager in football. Rice is head of football operations at Livingston.

Undoubtedly, there is a lot of familiarity in the club and the player had options, but none which really ticked all the boxes like Livingston. He said: “I love a big challenge and this is a big challenge.”

Arfield aims to “lift the place” as much as he can and stressed that in recent months at Falkirk, he played “20 minutes there, 30 minutes here, ten minutes there”, and he said: “It is quite hard to do that, training every day, and you just want something to look forward to on a Saturday.

“The team were playing brilliantly and the manager changed the system. He wanted pace in behind, and it is working a treat. I wanted to get out of that, shake hands. No animosity, no hard feelings whatsoever.”

So, he’s at a new club with a different manager with different methods and tactics and soaking up knowledge from bosses wherever he has been in his career. Coaching and management is being considered for the future and Arfield already dabbles in TV punditry, possibly another avenue looking ahead.

For now, his contract is until the summer and he is focused on helping Livingston survive. He is also determined to help the club progress in the Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup. They play St Mirren at Livingston on Saturday (15.00).