Colin Cameron thought his days in football were all but behind him.
After six months at Airdrieonians as assistant to Ian Murray he parted ways with the club as Covid hit.
Since 2020 he has settled into a routine which is much more family-oriented.
Helping out a few hours a day with Prompt Taxis to do their school runs, he had time to take his youngest daughter to her athletics and get in some golf for himself.
He also took in the occasional game, often at New Central Park to see Kelty Hearts.
“I’d almost resigned myself to not getting back into football,” Cameron tells Courier Sport at Stark’s Park.
The new Raith Rovers assistant manager is taking a break from the side’s preparations for the visit of Hamilton Accies this weekend.
‘Mickey’ is back in familiar surroundings after lifting the Coca-Cola Cup with the side, as well as two second-tier titles, during the 90s.
Meeting expectations
“It’s great to come back and you still see your photo up on the wall and you’re remembered by the fans and the people around here,” says Cameron.
“I know there’s been nothing but positive things said since I joined.
“That’s always nice to see, but I’ve got to back that up.
When the call came from Rovers chairman Steven MacDonald, Cameron was sitting in his car waiting to collect his daughter from athletics.
Usually one to dodge missed calls the way he would a rugged centre-back or defensive midfielder in his playing days, as if by fate he decided to answer.
“It honestly took me a minute to register exactly why he was phoning.
“At first I thought he was going to invite me along for a game or something!
“It became apparent that it was more than that.
“I had to say to him ‘Can I sleep on it?’ because it really did knock me for six – it came out the blue.”
‘The only club I’d come back to’
He consulted his wife who assumed he’d already accepted but he explained that he had other considerations outside of football to consider now.
“I slept on it,” Cameron continues, “my wife never changed her opinion about agreeing to it – the kids said the same thing.
“If it was a decision for me there wouldn’t be any decision to make.
“And if I’m being perfectly honest it probably would have been the only club I would have come back to – realistically the level I would go in at.
“And the fact I’d worked with the manager before.
“Even though it was only six months I felt we complimented each other well.
“At the time Covid hit we were going in the right direction with the club. Hopefully the same can happen here.”
The former attacking midfielder, who recently turned 50, missed the last two Saturdays due to prior engagements.
He is excited about the prospect of taking his seat in the Stark’s dugout for the first time this weekend.
Reception from fans
He made the game in Arbroath but was self-conscious about the reception he received given he’d just joined the club.
Raith Rovers team news: Ian Murray hopes to welcome forward back but another player will ‘miss a few weeks’ https://t.co/UgiltvtmD0 pic.twitter.com/MlX4a7GJ9U
— The Courier Sport (@thecouriersport) November 3, 2022
“I hadn’t taken a training session, I’d met the boys the day before – we go up there and win.
“Obviously you go along to the support, which was really good that day – a Wednesday night up there.
“I heard them singing my name and I felt a wee bit….,” at this point Cameron makes a gesture suggesting being slightly uncomfortable.
“Because the boys worked really hard for that victory.
“I’m looking forward to this Saturday because this will be the first chance I’ve had to be in the dugout at a home game.”
Listen to Cameron’s full answer on the reception he’s received:
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