Archie Mair, the 23-year-old goalkeeper from Norwich City, has described his recent loan move to Motherwell as a 'whirlwind' experience. The young shot-stopper made his debut in the Scottish Premiership last Friday against Hibernian, although the match ended in a disappointing 3-1 defeat for his new side. This transfer is part of a strategic plan to enhance Mair's prospects of securing a permanent position in the first team at Carrow Road, particularly following the recall of Vicente Reyes from his loan at Cambridge United, which aims to bolster Norwich's goalkeeping options alongside Angus Gunn and George Long.
Reflecting on the rapid developments that led to his transfer, Mair recounted, "It has been a whirlwind. I basically came in from training on Friday and we had a meeting, I was preparing for the game at Norwich, and then I came out of the meeting about two o'clock. And had a phone call basically saying, 'Get ready, get yourself up the road'."
The goalkeeper elaborated on the hectic nature of his journey to Scotland, stating, "So I gathered the boots and stuff, drove down to Stansted airport and flew up, got picked up from the airport, stayed in the hotel Friday night and then went and met the boys before the game. So yeah, it's been a whirlwind. It's tough but at the same time you just want to go and play."
Mair expressed his eagerness to embrace the challenge ahead, saying, "It's a game of football really and you're ready for it. I've trained all week; it's obviously a bit different having to fly up with whatever and meeting the boys for the first time - it can be tough but at the end of the day it's a game of football so it was fine."
Upon receiving the call that initiated his move, Mair shared his excitement: "When I got the phone call after training I was delighted and raring to go really. So there weren't any questions on my part. I was straight in the car and driving to the airport and all happy."
Motherwell's decision to bring Mair on loan was significantly influenced by the injury to Aston Oxborough, who suffered a broken thumb, alongside West Ham's recall of Krisztian Hegyi. This situation has left the club in urgent need of experienced goalkeeping options. Mair is particularly pleased that this move allows him to be closer to his family, making it easier for them to attend matches.
Reflecting on his previous seasons, Mair noted, "I came off the back of last season playing a lot, playing week in, week out and this year I was just kind of third choice. I had a spell on the bench where Angus Gunn got injured as well so it's just mainly training, travelling to all the games, doing the warm-up and things like that. So I was kind of itching to get out and play by the time January came round."
He also acknowledged the influence of senior goalkeepers throughout his career, stating, "I think I've been lucky with the senior goalkeepers I've had at all clubs even when I was at Aberdeen, Joe Lewis then. At Norwich I've had Tim Krul and then Angus Gunn now; they've all been really good to work with and try and learn off."
Mair shared a brief farewell with his Norwich teammates before departing, mentioning, "George was in the shower and I was like, 'I'm way up to Motherwell', so it was literally just a 'Good luck' and then out the door really."
In conclusion, Mair remarked, "It's the closest I've been in a while so they're all delighted about that; they can get to games a lot easier." This sentiment reflects not only his personal journey but also the supportive network he has within the Norwich City squad, as he embarks on this new chapter in his career.