Billy Stark: Norway match was toughest game of my life

Aug 24 2008 Scott Mcdermott Our Man In Lithuania

BILLY STARK will never forget his Scotland Under-21 side's last home game - a 4-1 friendly defeat to Norway at Rugby Park.

But his vivid memories will have nothing to do with his side's performance that night or the margin of defeat.

Events just hours before kick-off were always going to overshadow any football result on May 20.

It was the day our game really was put in perspective.

That morning Billy performed an emotional eulogy at the funeral of life-long pal Tommy Burns, who had died of cancer just five days before.

How Stark got through the 90 minutes - at the ground where the duo worked for two years as gaffer and assistant - is a minor miracle in itself.

Looking back he openly admits that for the first time in his career his mind wasn't on the game.

As he prepares for Scotland's next home match, a crucial Euro 2009 qualifier against Slovenia at Falkirk in a fortnight, Billy spoke about what he regards as the hardest day of his life. And he's adamant Burns would have wanted him to carry on with his duties as coach of our talented youngsters.

He said: "I needed good staff round about me that night.

"But there was certainly never a thought in my mind about missing the game.

"Tommy would have wanted me to carry on as best I could.

"After all, that's what he did, didn't he?

"It's the way we were brought up. We had discipline.

"Of course it has to be put in perspective, comparing life with football. And it was a hugely difficult day. Thankfully I managed to get through it. There were strange coincidences that day which made it even more poignant for me.

"Like the game being at Rugby Park for instance, where Tommy and I had worked before.

"In a way that made it more difficult but in other ways it was actually quite good.

"That was easily the toughest day of my professional life. I hope I don't have one as hard as that ever again, that's for sure."

It's no surprise Stark's passion and dedication to the game is similar to Tommy's.

The former Celtic and Scotland midfielder never let his battle with the skin cancer that would ultimately defeat him get in the way of his love of football.

He carried on regardless with his work at Lennoxtown with the help of his family, friends and staff at Parkhead. Stark is of a similar mould.

He admits he can't help immersing himself in the game and that's why he knew he had to face the Norwegians that night in Kilmarnock.

He said: "It was a difficult night in all sorts of ways but it's something we all learned from.

"I've never been involved in a situation like that before. But that's the thing about football, you have to be ready for anything.

"Just ask the wives of any coach or manager nowadays - it's a non-stop job.

"During my two-week summer holiday I still thought about the U-21 campaign and our training.

"You try to hide the fact your focus is elsewhere but you can't.

"But the Norway game was different as for once I couldn't concentrate on the football.

"Thankfully other people were involved and they supplemented that. The key thing was having good staff around me that night.

"Remember it was also hard for the Celtic boys involved. Scott Cuthbert and Ryan Conroy - who both played that night - had been at the funeral as well so it was tough for them too."