Barrowman pushes out the boat as he relishes the challenge from Steelmen

Oct 22 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

COLTNESS lad Andy Barrowman has admitted he is relishing the prospect of lining up against the team he used to follow as a boy when his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side take on The Steelmen this weekend.

It will be the first time the striker has played against his local club when he takes to the field on Saturday afternoon in their crucial Premier League encounter at the Caledonian Stadium – having made the step up from Division Two in the summer.

The 23-year-old told the Wishaw Press: “Growing up it was Rangers I supported but a couple of my mates supported Motherwell so I used to go and watch them on Saturday afternoons when they were playing at home.

“That was round about the time that Harri Kampman was the manage. So yes I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”

Barrowman, who attended Coltness High School rattled in the goals for Jerviston Boys Club before eventually making the step up to Rangers youth set up as a schoolboy.

Aged 16 he signed his first professional contract with Birmingham City and since then has done the rounds at a number of lower division teams in England.

Having moved back to Scotland a couple of years ago he joined Ross County at the beginning of last season.

And after a highly profitable campaign with the Dingwall club in which he helped them gain promotion back to Division One, the striker made the switch to County rivals Inverness Caley in the summer.

“I’m enjoying living up here and I have just bought a house in the area so that helps,” Barrowman said.

“I’m just finding my feet at Caley but they are a good bunch of lads and I’m really enjoying testing myself in the SPL.”

Inverness and Motherwell are currently level on points in the league and Barrowman, who is hoping to shrug off a niggling injury before the weekend, admits his side will face a tricky match despite the Fir Parkers having not hit top form yet.

He said: “They had a great season last time and finishing third behind the Old Firm was no mean feat.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game against Motherwell but we look to win all our home games and we will definitely be looking to do that when the Steelmen visit on Saturday”

He added: “There are still a couple of my mates and members of my family that support Motherwell so I’ll have a little bit of banter with them as we look forward to the fixture.”