Striker Steven Thompson ready to rock Burnley

3:00pm Friday 5th September 2008

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HAVING played the guitar for 10 years, recently adding ‘song writer’ to his list of musical talents, it’s no wonder that Steven Thompson is looking to strike the right chord with Burnley.

Despite bursting onto the scene at his old club, Cardiff, with a double on his debut – ironically against the Clarets – things didn’t work out for the striker on the pitch in the end.

Yet, while desperate for a fresh start at Turf Moor, the Scotland international still has treasured memories of his two-and-a-half-year spell with the Bluebirds, not least the birth of his two children, Gracie and Struan, and the rapport he built up with supporters.

Reaching last season’s FA Cup final against Ports-mouth was the icing on the cake for the 29-year-old, even though he was on the losing side on the day that Cardiff flew the flag for the Championship.

For not only did he get the chance to run out at the new Wembley twice, after coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes in both the semi-final and final, he wrote the song that inspired their journey.

“When we came back from our semi-final win against Barnsley at Wembley the lads were saying we ought to write a song,” said Thompson, on how the idea of ‘Do the Ayatollah’ was inspired.

“Kevin (McNaughton) and I sat together and came up with what we thought was a good song.

“But we’d had a few drinks after the match and when I looked at it again next day it wasn’t as good as we’d thought. The lads were asking about it, so I thought I’d better do it again.

“I went into my guitar room at home and wrote the song.”

There was never any danger of it troubling Madonna’s ‘4 Minutes’ at the top of the charts, but Thompson was just proud to make use of a talent that, with his dad, Graham, involved with Glasgow pub band Dr Cook and the Boners, and his young cousin involved with up and coming Manchester indie outfit Twilight Robin, is clearly in the family genes.

“I started learning the guitar about 10 years ago and I love it,” said Thompson.

“I’ve got two young kids now so trying to find time to play the guitar does not arise very often.

“I pick it up every now and again. It’s better for a laugh with the boys and doing a bit of strumming. That’s probably the only time I play it now. I’m not an enthusiast, but I do enjoy my music.”

No sooner as he said that than his mobile phone rings, blaring out Coldplay’s Viva La Vida.

The former Rangers striker revealed he played the album en route to Turf Moor to sign a two-year deal on Monday, and he is eagerly anticipating the release of the new Oasis album.

More importantly, though, he is ready to add another string to Burnley’s bow, learning from the man whose boots he used to scrub clean as an apprentice at Dundee United.

“My memories of Owen Coyle go back about 12 years, I just remember him being an influential person around the changing room, which obviously he still is,” said Thompson.

“He was, without a doubt, a top predatory striker, and that’s exactly what I would want to work with; someone who knows the game inside out, knows what he wants from his strikers and he can help me develop and improve me.

“I’d like to think that I can bring something to the team but at the same time I’m very keen to learn and improve, and I’ve no doubt whatsoever that I will improve here, as a player, working with Owen Coyle.”