Peace of mind helps bring the best out of Clach's Stuart Leslie
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A SETTLED life off the park has allowed Stuart Leslie to find his love for football again.
After a frustrating three years, where work commitments blighted his availability for games and took him away from his family, the Clach forward feels he is in a better place mentally and is starting to show what he is capable of again.
Leslie is getting married to his fiancé Rhianna in November and has been able to spend more time with daughter Olivia, who turns three a month later.
He still works away during the week, flitting between Motherwell and Aberdeen, but trains with East Kilbride and a junior side in Aberdeen to keep up his fitness.
“For the last two or three seasons, I’ve lost belief and confidence in myself. I’ve been in and out of football and had no real momentum,” he said. “It was a case of ticking over now and again and I kind of lost interest.
“This season I’ve rediscovered it, with playing and training regularly and I’ve got to thank Iain (boss) Polworth and (assistant) Brian (Macleod) for having belief in me.
“There’s a good camaraderie between the players in the dressing room and I’m back loving the game again.”
Having the family life clicking into place has been a huge weight lifted off the former Nairn, Elgin City and Caley Thistle player’s shoulders. During his work for Stork, he spent time working on rigs off the coast of Bergen, Norway, and missed a lot of precious time with Rhianna and Olivia.
“Family is the main thing. It’s massive being able to get home at weekends and see them, rather than being away all the time. It puts a strain on things. When I’m at home, family is the priority,” said Leslie. “Everything is clicking into place; I’m getting married in November and everyone is hopefully reaping the benefits. The lads are seeing a fitter and sharper player and at home, it’s a better life for my family.
“Rhianna is taking charge of the wedding. I got to choose the honeymoon and I know where I’m going on my stag do. I’ve been told where and when I need to be – everything else is being taken care of!
“Olivia is a character. She keeps me on my toes and she knows about football now. She comes down to watch now and again and it’s a good family club. There’s a good atmosphere around the place. I’m very fortunate and appreciative of how lucky I am and it’s showing on the park. I’ve got a belief and a buzz about the game again.”
Travelling between Motherwell and Aberdeen has not proved too taxing for Leslie, thanks to Polworth arranging for him to train with clubs in the respective cities.
“There’s a bit of to-ing and fro-ing but I’m able to keep my sharpness and I’m still able to get to the gym through the week,” he said. I’ve rediscovered my form through playing regularly and I feel as though I’m getting back to my full potential.”
Leslie started his career with Caley Thistle but was released in 2009, joining the Lilywhites for the first time. Two years later he was back in senior football with Elgin City, before signing for Nairn County in 2013.
He had a brief spell with Deveronvale and signed for Clach for a second time on Christmas Eve 2015.
The 27-year-old found the back of the net for the second time this season against Fort William last Saturday and is keen for the Lilywhites to develop some momentum of their own.
On paper they have got a generous pair of fixtures coming up, with lowly Strathspey the visitors to Grant Street Park this weekend, before a trip to Claggan Park to face Fort William the week after. Two wins and they can go into their Scottish Cup tie against Lowland League side Spartans with confidence.
“It all clicked together against Fort William and we knew we were capable of it,” added Leslie. “We’ve got a fortuitous run of games that look favourable and would set us up nicely going into Spartans. These are the big ties you want to play in and we want to go into it in great form.”
He has also reserved praise for fellow striker Dan Maclennan, who leads the way as Clach’s top scorer with seven goals.
Maclennan has been talked up in the past as having the ability to play at a higher level and Leslie believes he is a “frightening prospect”.
“He’s a big, strong powerful player,” he said. “There were a couple of teams looking at him at the start of the season because he’s a workhorse. He’s a great asset to have in the team and he’s a bit like myself, in that he was needing fitness and games to get into full swing.
“I like playing with him and we’ve started to build a good relationship.”
Clach sit 14th in the table after 11 games on 12 points, nine ahead of tomorrow’s opponents.
Strathspey have won just once this season and are two points clear of winless Fort William at the foot of the Highland League table.
