Barr: My fitness battle was worth ever second after this

Apr 14 2011 By Eric MacKinnon

Craig Barr

CRAIG BARR admits his journey through injury hell has been worth it after helping Livingston to the Second Division title.

And the classy stopper has paid tribute boss Gary Bollan for handing him a one-year contract at a time when he had been out of the game for a year.

Barr has been one of the cornerstones of the Livi side this season after winning his fitness fight to recover from a full cruciate reconstruction – and he admits he feels a debt of gratitude to the club.

He said: "This time last year, I was running around a field on my own doing my rehab.

"Now I am here winning another league winners medal.

"My dad asked me the other day how I managed to get through everything.

"I am so glad I did because it was definitely worth it. I have enjoyed my season here with Livingston so much – it’s hard not to enjoy it when you are playing and winning games every week."

Like several others at the club Barr’s contract is due to expire in a matter of weeks but he insists he’d love to extend his stay in West Lothian.

He added: "There are a good few of us out of contract in a few weeks. We don’t know yet what is going to happen and up until now all we have been doing is concentrating on getting the league won and out of the way.

"It isn’t a nice feeling not to know where you are going to end up and it is something I have experienced before. Right now we are enjoying the good season we have had but I would love to stay.

"I am very grateful to the club for bringing me in when I hadn’t kicked a ball in 12-months and giving me a one-year contract.

"I was hoping for a six-month deal to prove my fitness and that my knee was ok and then try and win an extension but they gave me 12-months and I’ve rarely missed a game so I’m grateful to them for that."