Goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray has burning desire to make Charlton Athletic transfer a success story

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Craig MacGillivray has already proven he is one of the most reliable pair of hands in League One, and Charlton Athletic’s new signing is setting his sights on performing at a higher level.

It’s puzzling that Portsmouth did not activate a clause in the 28-year-old’s contract that would have extended his stay on the South Coast for another 12 months.

Instead Charlton were able to snap up MacGillivray, who kept 17 clean sheets in all competitions in the last campaign, on a free transfer.

And he received 64 per cent of the votes by readers of the local paper to scoop their Player of the Season award.

Our paper exclusively revealed in May that MacGillivray was a top target if Ben Amos did not extend his stay in SE7.

And the Addicks quickly moved for MacGillivray after their former number one opted to join League One rivals Wigan Athletic.

MacGillivray, born in the Scottish city of Perth, is quick to dismiss any suggestion that being let go by Portsmouth – despite an excellent campaign – will add any extra motivational fuel.

“There will probably be externals who make a bit more of it than there is,” he told the South London Press. “But it’s just another game of football.

“I’m not the sort of person to dwell on it. I’ve moved on from it. As soon as that meeting happened [at Portsmouth], that was it – gone.

“I’m my own worst critic. I put a lot of pressure on myself to improve and do the very best I can. In terms of incentive to prove anything to them – no. It is all me, it always has been. I always want to do the best for me and if I’m performing at my best that usually means it helps the team.”

MacGillivray was Portsmouth’s hero when they won the EFL Trophy in April 2019. He saved Lee Cattermole’s effort in the penalty shootout to clinch a 5-4 victory over Sunderland, the match ending 2-2 after extra-time.

“When I went to Portsmouth I hadn’t played many games,” he said. “You’ve always got that little question mark over your head – people say: ‘Can he play consistently, and can he play at the top of League One?’

“As a goalkeeper there is only so much you can do. I can’t score the goals. It’s a team game. I’d like to think I put the doubts about that behind me in my three seasons there, they were three good seasons as well.

“I will cherish some memories, like the Checkatrade [EFL Trophy] final, forever. Of course you do, they were big events that I was involved in, thankfully. It’s the next chapter. I hope it is more successful.

“I wanted to get out of League One with Portsmouth and I feel, coming to Charlton, that can be the case. I want to help Charlton get out of this league.”

MacGillivray started his career in non-league football.

He spent a year with Leeds United but was not actually officially on their books, juggling training with taking his A levels.

After 90 appearances for Harrogate Town in the Conference North, he made the jump to League One with Walsall.

A free transfer to Shrewsbury followed in July 2017. Five days later the club signed Dean Henderson on loan from Manchester United, with the future England international handed the number one jersey.

Henderson has told South London Press columnist Adam Sells that MacGillivray is the most under-rated keeper he has worked with.

“It’s very nice praise indeed from someone who has really kicked on,” said MacGillivray. “He always had the potential to do that. Every day in training, and in games, you could see he had a really bright future.

“I didn’t know he was coming in [at Shrewsbury]. I was going there to finally kickstart my career. I think Jayson Leutwiler was there at the time and he was on his way out.

“Dean’s got a very level head, he grafts his arse off and he’s got so much self-confidence. He always said he would play for England and become Manchester United’s number one.

“It’s nice he is saying goalkeeping-wise that he rates me so highly. I’ve always had a lot of self-confidence, in terms of my ability. The frustrating thing is that before coming to Portsmouth, I’d never really had that many opportunities to play, unless people were on international duty or injured.

“It took until I went to Portsmouth in 2018 to show people I’m not just a number two and that I’m more than capable of playing at this level.

“I don’t think there is any better grounding than non-league football at a young age. It really does mature you. And it’s challenging – you’ve got big brutes against you. They come and smash you. It’s a great learning curve.

“My career has slowly and slowly picked up from when I joined Portsmouth. I feel like I’m still improving, even at the age of 28. My ambitions aren’t stopping now.

“I want to get Charlton promoted and I want to play for my national team. I keep emphasising that. If you get the opportunity to play for your country, it is an unbelievable honour.

“All these things are tied in. I don’t feel I’m old at all. I still feel there is a lot I can improve on and get better with.”

MacGillivray was picked by Scotland for three training camps in the lead up to the European Championships but missed the final cut. Now he is hoping his performances at club level brings him into the fold for the Tartan Army’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

MacGillivray is swapping one big club at League One level for another.

“Any footballer, and me in particular, you want to test yourself and have that pressure of playing for big clubs that want to achieve stuff,” he said. “You want challenges. It’s a big factor of coming to Charlton.

“I remember my first season at Portsmouth and we played at The Valley on a Saturday evening, on Sky. Unfortunately we lost but it was absolutely bouncing.

“That is one of the draws coming here. It is a massive club.”