A personal tribute from Craig Brown’s former player – and great friend – Pat Nevin 

After my own father, Craig Brown was the most influential and important figure in my life.

Without him I would not have become a professional football player. It really is that simple.

I played for Gartcosh United against what we thought were Clyde reserves in 1981. It turned out there were actually some first team players in their squad, I didn’t have any idea until later.

I scored a goal and played well that day and on the way home Craig cornered me and asked me to come and play for Clyde.

I said, “Not really, I don’t care, I’m studying.”

He said, ‘Come and do both. And we’ll pay you £30 a week.’

When he told me that, it was a case of, “Where do I sign?” He understood that there was a way around the situation because he was a teacher and had an educational background that other managers might not have.

I had a brilliant two years with Clyde and when I left he wanted me to move to Dundee United. I decided I would rather move to Chelsea, but there was never any annoyance or anger.

From that first day, Craig and I had really become friends. I was one of his players, yes, but more than that, we were friends.

The only time he annoyed me was when he put me on the wing a few times when I didn’t want to play there. Maybe in hindsight he knew what he was doing. Anyway, he changed my game.

Tactically he was astute and modern in his thinking. He was very good with people and was recognized as an excellent coach. The truth is, it was never just Craig for me. It was always Craig and Andy.

Craig and Andy Roxburgh formed a duo. They were unfairly castigated over the “Largs Mafia” chat, but having worked under other executives in the South, people should take my word for it. Compared to some, they were more than okay.

Craig and Andy were like an unmarried couple who worked brilliantly together.

The best comparison I can make is Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. Maybe not in terms of the personalities involved, but they had similar work dynamics. My favorite thing about them was their ability to make the Scotland team a unified group again.

There were times when it felt more like two or three different groups. They have worked so hard to cultivate spirit and togetherness.

Craig would work very hard at that. And if your personality wasn’t right then, no matter how good you were as a player, you weren’t on the team. You weren’t even on the team.

They took the stick for it. But if you brought a negative vibe or attitude, a good player would never be enough to overcome that.

I loved that. And I loved the way Craig handled things so much. Most managers are more complex characters than people think.

They have to behave in a different way in front of the cameras than in private. I know Steve Clarke well, and Clarkie is a great laugh off camera. It’s always the way. Craig was the same. He had a friendly demeanor and a very sharp sense of humour.

He had a twinkle in his eye when he told you a story. But there was also always a strong character. He was good at making tough decisions. But he would always make them for the right reasons. There was no bull, he was straight and fair with you.

Craig didn’t really take me to Euro 96 or France 98, but I could never be mad at him. I knew he was just trying to do the right thing.

His time as leader came to an end after a 2–0 defeat to Belgium in October 2001, costing Scotland qualification for another World Cup. I remember everyone shouting to fire him afterwards. I also remember saying, “Don’t.”

The team had been close to qualifying. We played the Belgians in Hampden in March last year and drew 2-2. Scotland led 2–0 and leveled in the last minute. In the end, we missed the play-offs by only two points.

The problem was that by then the nation had become too blasé to always get there. And that failure felt like a layoff.

I remember thinking, “It’s really not that easy.” I have seen him do nothing wrong, and history has supported that view. Craig walked before being pushed. If it was the best option for the country – and people were strong about it – then he felt he should go.

Remarkably, 25 years later, he is still the last man to take Scotland to a World Cup final.

That tells you that his departure was not the great result that people seemed to think at the time.

Craig and I would work with Radio 5 Live for many years. We did World Cups and tournaments together and maintained a relationship. There was never really a break in that.

The last time Craig reached out, he was trying to get help for a former player who had been in England for two months. He knew that as a former president of the players’ union I could get that help.

We’ve all known for a few weeks that Craig was unwell. The fact that we were prepared for it doesn’t make the loss of one of the most important figures in my life any easier.

As told to Stephen McGowan