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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Tee-total ex-East Kilbride star builds epic pub in back garden

Tee-total ex-East Kilbride midfielder Liam Craig has helped to build a massive pub in his back garden.

The 22-year-old doesn't drink, but will use the bar to watch football on TV.

Craig, who now plays for East of Scotland League side Dunipace, helped dad Ian build the pub as a birthday gift for mum Marie, but also a lockdown project to showcase their joinery business Hi-Spek Contracts Ltd.

Liam, who is in his final year as an apprentice joiner, put a video out on social media which shows the pub being built at their home in East Kilbride.

When everybody comes out of lockdown, Liam hopes several others will want a pub in their garden, too.

Liam said: "Myself and my dad are joiners, and wanted to do something different during the lockdown to keep ourselves busy.

"It was my mum's birthday on June 20, so it's a present for her, but it just fell at a good time. The lockdown gave us a bit more time, but it took us a wee bit longer just due to all the places being shut, so you couldn't really get materials when you needed them.

"When the stuff came up, if it was in the morning we'd be working right through to 8pm from 8am, and it just helped that it was nice dry days, so we got more time out in the sun, and because it was lighter we could work for longer.

"We knew we were going to achieve something at the end of it, you weren't really bothered about working late."

Liam doesn't use the pub for what most people do, but is delighted to have somewhere to relax.

"I don't really drink," he said. "I just go in and sit to watch football, really.

"We had a party for just close family for my mum's birthday in the garden and kept social distancing measures."

Liam hopes people seeing the video will help to boost the business.

He said: "It probably took us maybe four or five weeks, but if the stuff was more available it would probably have taken two or three weeks.

"I put the video up on Facebook and Instagram and it got some good feedback, so hopefully later on, once everything opens up and everybody's back to work people will want us to build a pub for them.

"Hopefully the video helps with that, that was kind of the idea. I knew I wouldn't be working because of lockdown, so I thought while we're off, at least we can put something on the page to show what we have been doing."

On the football side of things, Liam is enjoying life at Dunipace, and wants to do the best he can for them and for his dad.

"I was at East Kilbride for three seasons," he said. "I was in the reserves for two, then in the first team for the final year that I was there.

"It's a really good set-up at Dunipace, I’m enjoying it. I’m just enjoying getting to play every week, getting myself in the team, and just knowing if I’m playing well I’ll stay there.

"I'm in the final year of my apprenticeship. I want to play at the highest level that I can, and help my dad to boost the business."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on  Facebook or find us on  Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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