Stewart Black is back in the groove of keeping clean sheets
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FORMER Elgin City goalkeeper Stewart Black is enjoying his football again in the Highland League with Lossiemouth.
And despite an approach from the Black and Whites in the summer to take him back to Borough Briggs as back-up to Thomas McHale, Black admits he is loving life at improving Lossie.
Black (24) notched up his third consecutive clean sheet at home in the 2-0 win over Fort William on Saturday.
“It was one of the quieter days at the office. It is all about progression for us,” he said.
“We have Rothes away next weekend and that will be a real test to see where we are at.”
Black is in his third season at Grant Park and has agreed an extension to keep him at the Coasters next season.
“I am loving it here. Ian [Campbell], Scotty [Campbell] and Joe [Russell, manager] all have faith in me.”
Black had been with Elgin City for 11 years and made his first team debut at the age of 15.
“I have to hold my hands up and it was my responsibility that Elgin went sour. I probably didn’t work as hard as I should have.
“Elgin came back in over the summer but nothing came of it, but I am happy here.
“I should have gone to Jim [Weir, then manager], Gavin [Price, then assistant manager] or Stevie [Dunn, goalkeeping coach] and admitted I was struggling. That season I got released I had about three howlers in pre-season.
“I played against St Johnstone and played relatively well and went back to having some howlers. I had a clean sheet away to Cowdenbeath. I am a grown up now and can accept responsibility.”
Black grew up in Perthshire after his dad, a Lossie loon, moved there with the Hydro after gaining a promotion. That is why he grew up a St Johnstone fan and he remains friends with current Perth No 1 Zander Clark, whom he worked with during Clark’s successful loan spell at Borough Briggs.
Black is not surprised that Clark has established himself as the Perth Saints first choice goalkeeper in the last few seasons.
“I still speak to Zander occasionally. What I am surprised about is he hasn’t got a Scotland cap yet,” he said.
As for Black, he is “very comfortable” at Grant Park and is in the process of moving back to Lossiemouth from Rhynie, near Huntly.
