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That'll Stu Nicely For New Boy Findlay
Written by Newcastle Utd
Stuart Findlay talks about his move to Newcastle United, his career so far and his desire to impress for United
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Centre half Stuart Findlay spent his formative years with Scottish giants Celtic, but even that didn't prepare him for the experience of arriving at St. James' Park.
"When I came here, I was shocked how much the immediate city are just in love with the club," the 20-year-old told nufc.co.uk.
"At Celtic, in Glasgow, it's very much a divided city between Celtic and Rangers, but I've never experienced an atmosphere like this, where everyone's singing from the same hymn sheet and they're all rooting for the one club. To have that many passionate fans of a club is a special thing.
"I don't think I've had a day I've walked out and not seen a Newcastle strip yet. I'm living with a good friend of mine who's Newcastle daft, and as soon as he heard I was signing here he was willing to let me stay there as long as I wanted!
"It's a proud moment for me. I've come from Celtic, who are a big team in Scotland, but to be able to leave Celtic and join a team who are just as big, if not bigger down in England is a really proud moment for me. I'm delighted to be here."
Findlay, who spent last season on loan at Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, linked up with United this week, and met his new teammates in Peter Beardsley's under-21 squad.
Aside from his spell at Rugby Park, the Scotland Under-21 international has also enjoyed temporary stints with Greenock Morton and Dumbarton.
And he believes that, as one of the more experienced heads in the Magpies' second string, he can help to pass on what he's already learned from his taste of senior football to his peers.
"I played about 30 games last year at Kilmarnock, and it was a good experience, but it's a different experience coming here and trying to push my way into the first team," he says. "I went there as a first team player, but I relish the challenge of being under-21s and trying to perform and show what I'm all about.
"I'd like to come in and be able to communicate with the players what I've picked up from playing with 35-year-old players, and I want to bring that in and pass it on to people my age as I feel that with the amount of games I've played, I can say I'm experienced for my age, because to play over 50 games is a decent achievement.
"If I can bring that down and try and hand over some of the harsh lessons I've learned playing against men, it's certainly something I will try to do."
It will be the first time Findlay has played club football outside of Scotland.
But he insisted he's relishing the challenge of proving his worth south of the border at his new club - and says that earning a place in Rafa Benitez's first team squad would be a "dream come true".
"I've been on loan for the last few years and tried to get a bit of first team football under my belt, but to come down and train at one of the top academies in England, it gives me that additional view on that way that they want football to be played," said Findlay.
"The biggest thing is playing against new players. In Scotland, I'd seen everybody, I'd played against everybody I could tell you everybody's starting 11. But down here it's new players, new management, new styles, new players to come up against and new ways to challenge myself.
"I had a few other offers up in Scotland, and I could have stayed and maybe played first team football straight away, but to get the chance to come down and impress, and hopefully get the chance to play in the Newcastle first team, is something that not many people in the world can say they've been able to do.
"If I can push on and prove myself in the under-21s and get that chance, then it would just be a dream come true for me."