Clyde have enjoyed a fine autumn with a 6 game unbeaten run that has seen them progress past Gala Fairydean Rovers and Brora Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup and climb up the League 2 table.
One of the factors in their run has been the form of goalkeeper Jamie Barclay who has lost a measly 4 goals during that time.
The shot-stopper has been praised by Bully Wee manager Jim Duffy as well as Berwick Rangers boss Ian Little and Stirling Albion manager Greig McDonald for his recent performances and it would be fair to say the 24 year old is enjoying keeping goal for the Broadwood club.
Barclay said: “It has been a good unbeaten run of games and I cannot remember the last time Clyde have had a run like this. We were disappointed to draw at Queen’s Park last Saturday but a point at Hampden is not the worst result.”
“In the games against Berwick and Stirling I was delighted with how I played and to be honest I think I have had a good start to the season.”
An honest Barclay added: “Last week against Brora I should have done better at their goal. It was a good strike from their player, and the ball did move a bit, but I should have saved it. Outwith that goal I do not think I have done too much wrong. “
A good goalkeeper is not all that is required for a mean defence with Barclay saying: “I have been pretty solid but Clyde’s run is not just about me, it is about the boys in front of me as well. We have really strengthened our back four this season and the difference these guys have made has been unbelievable. “
“It is still early in the season so you never know what can happen but our defence is confident and communicating with each other.”
That communication has been effective with Barclay saying: “Last season one thing that we struggled with was balls over the top as I never really knew when to come out for them and the defenders did not know when to leave them to me. This season things are a lot better and they are given me the ball back like we are telepathic.”
“What a difference it makes to a team when you know when and where a defender is going to give you a ball back. It also makes a difference to a defender to know when he should be giving a ball back.”
“We have not lost any goals this season through that after working on it. That is so much better than last season.”
Good form is nothing new for Barclay, however this is his most consistent period as he explained: “This is the best I have played for Clyde. I had a run last season of 5 or 6 games including one against Rangers where I played well.”
“It was great to get into the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for the Third Division on the back of that run, however this season has been my most consistent period of playing well. I have had only a couple of down games but most of them have been up and long may that continue.”
Attack is also a form of defence for Clyde with the shot-stopper saying: “The whole team has also been boosted by the introduction of Steven Ferguson from our youth side as he has been terrific on the wing.”
“He is great at taking the game to teams and when he is doing that opposing defenders are worrying about us and that means we are not worrying about other teams. We look like a team that could actually do something this season whereas last season we would be hanging on for results. This season we are going out and getting them.”
The unbeaten run continued with a 1-1 draw at Hampden against Queen’s Park. Barclay played his part with a great stop 5 minutes before the end however he was eventually beaten by Blair Spittal just before the end.
Barclay said: “I thought my save from David Anderson was going to win us the three points. I did not know a lot about it as it was an instinctive save. I knew he had hit it well but someone ducked out of the way of it so I saw it late. I was just delighted to get a hand on it and put it over.”
“The game had not seen many chances and with us being one goal ahead I thought that save would be enough for us to see it through. To be fair to Queen’s Park they did look like they would score at that time of the game although it pains me to say it.”
“However if we had said last season that we would get a point at Queen’s Park we would have been pleased.”
Barclay is in the fifth season as a professional player and his bouncing back up the way after starting off as a full time and an international player before being released.
“I started off at Falkirk and my performances there saw me get into the Scotland under-21 squad for two years running,” said Barclay before adding, “I did not play much or was even on the bench that often but I got a cap against Northern Ireland in November 2010 .”
“I played the full game and that was a nice moment especially as we won 3-1. They had organised the game for the next generation of players at an under-21 level but they played me so that I got my cap.”
By this time Barclay had first team experience, although not with the Bairns as he explained: “I went to East Stirlingshire on loan in August 2008 and that was my first experience of playing at a first team level. I played 13 games during my time there and it was a good time to be there as they really put in a promotion challenge that season before losing in the play-offs.”
“I went back to Falkirk and they would not let me go out on loan again straight away as they had a goalkeeper out with injury. I sat on the bench and the Shire brought in someone else because they got fed up waiting to see if I was going back.”
“I ended up having a loan spell at Berwick Rangers and then I joined the Shire for the full season.”
The second time was even better with Barclay adding: “We broke the club’s unbroken run record of 11 games during that spell. It was the first time the Shire had been as strong for years. However we ended up losing in the play-offs again.”
Barclay returned to Berwick for a second spell on loan, again for a full season, before becoming a Clyde player in the summer of 2012.
His loan spells have helped prepare him for the demands of being a number one in the SPFL as he explained: “I am 24 now and have played in a lot of games. I am approaching 150-160 games which Is really good for someone of my age. I was always told I would not been playing first team football until I was 25 so the fact that I have got so many games is really good.
“I must be doing something right and even though it is the lowest league of senior football it is still a really good standard.”
Barclay is most certainly doing something right as he is already fixed up for a longer stay at Broadwood as he explained: “I had spoken to Clyde about an extended deal at the end of last season and it is now signed. I enjoy being at the club and I enjoy the training with a terrific bunch of boys at the club as well “
“The manager Jim Duffy and his assistant Chic Charnley have been great as well. The manager’s knowledge of the game is brilliant and he has really helped me a lot this season.”
Duffy’s positive approach has brought dividends with Barclay saying: “The manager always makes you feel good about things as he is always praising you for things you do well. It is great to have your confidence boosted like that and makes you want to do well for the team with even the smallest pieces of your game.”
“Thankfully I have not done too much wrong for them to have a go at me. But if I do they brush it to the side and concentrate on the positives. Like most players, but goalkeepers in particular, you do not want to be thinking about mistakes you have made. You always want to be thinking about the positives.”
And what be a positive outcome for Clyde this season Barclay was asked and he said: “You don’t want to say too much about what success this year would be for Clyde but I don’t see why we are not looking for the play-offs. It is a crazy league just now and that could be a problem as if you have a bad spell and lose 2 or 3 games you find yourself close to the bottom.”
“A couple of good results and you are second.”
Barclay finished by saying: “There is a great spirit at the club and outwith my time at Falkirk it is the best group of boys I have known. We are all about the same age so we are young but we all get on well. It would be great to keep this good run going and make it an excellent season for Clyde.”
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