ABERDEEN defender Anthony Stewart had rarely worn the captain’s armband before arriving at Pittodrie this summer – but the 29-year-old insists his experiences at previous club Wycombe Wanderers gave him the perfect education in learning what it takes to lead a group of players.
The dressing room at Wycombe was full of characters, to say the least – and none made quite as big an impression as cult hero Adebayo Akinfenwa, the hulking centre-forward who is as big a personality off the park as he is on it.
Stewart doesn’t believe that he has had to adjust too much to his new responsibilities in the north east, and he is grateful that that there are one or two older heads in the dressing room that are also willing to pull their weight.
“I wouldn’t say I have changed my mindset as captain but I do need to be more thoughtful on the pitch, in terms of how I speak,” he explained. “Being captain is a big duty in terms of getting the message across to players in a different way. Each player takes information in differently so I have to take that on board and deal with the boys accordingly.
“I had been captain in odd games in the past but not consistently throughout the season.
“I definitely thought of captains I had in the past but my last club, Wycombe, set me up massively as it was big on characters on and off the pitch. That stood me in good stead for coming here.
“But I stay away from the fines - Jonny Hayes takes care of that. I just try to enforce the mentality and the attitude going into games. It’s about maintaining a professional attitude throughout the season.
“We have gelled well but we are spending time together away from the training ground too, going out for food and getting to know each other. It's about building relationships and the quicker you do that, the more it helps on the pitch.
“Between myself and the older pros here, we had a chat about pulling everyone together and making them all comfortable. We want them all to have a voice and that has been good.”
Wycombe are something of a modern-day ‘Crazy Gang’ and working alongside larger-than-life characters on a daily basis was an eye-opener for Stewart – particularly, he says, training against Akinfenwa and the striker’s unusual physique.
“He was another great example for myself,” he said. “Playing with him, you know what he brings to the game. However, there is also another side off the pitch.
“When you are out on the pitch because of the way he is built and the way he plays he is not going to be able to get around the pitch. That is where character comes into it.
“We have to understand his weaknesses and use it as our strength. He is a great guy and was influential. He spoke up all the time and got us going. It was good being around him.
“That’s how he is [a wacky character behind the scenes]. To be fair on match-day he is a bit more serious. Throughout the week though, as big as he is, he is a very likeable person, a good guy.”
Aberdeen return to action this afternoon with a trip to Easter Road and Stewart is preparing for a tricky examination. The Dons will be looking to continue their good early-season form and strengthen their grip on third place, and the captain is hopeful of helping his team’s cause by recording a clean sheet in the capital.
Stewart believes that his blossoming central defensive partnership with Celtic loanee Liam Scales is allowing the pair to get the best out of each other, and he hopes that will continue in the contest with Hibs.
“The gaffer did say to me before I came in that I had a centre-half that will compliment me,” Stewart recalled. “Obviously it is easier said than done but I came in and saw it for myself.
“The good thing about Scalesy is that he plays his own game. However, he listens to me and I listen to him. We have got a good relationship going and long may it continue.”
