Cieran Slicker is currently on loan at League Two club Barnet.(Image: Ross Halls)
Cieran Slicker knows he’s got a couple of tags to shake off.
One, simply being ‘Liam Delap’s mate’. And two, the goalkeeper who had a ‘horror’ senior international debut for Scotland.
That process is well underway at League Two club Barnet. At the start of his overdue first senior loan, the 23-year-old recently saved two penalties in a game and was named Supporters Player of the Month for September.
It’s put the former Manchester City youngster in a good place to reflect on that night at Hampden Park back in June…
Slicker had just five senior appearances to his name when he got the call for two summer friendlies. Three keepers being injured – Craig Gordon, Liam Kelly and Zander Clark – had opened the door.
He went into the home game against Iceland as third choice, but back-up Robby McCrorie got injured in the warm-up and, less than seven minutes in, Angus Gunn landed awkwardly and had to come off. Thrust into the action, Slicker was soon picking the ball out of the net after a slightly loose clearance was ruthlessly punished.
Two more goals were conceded either side of half-time. Some poor defending at a corner did the Town man no favours, a ricocheted ball squirming under him on the line from close quarters. A firm header (which was a close offside call) did then go through his hands.
Scotland goalkeeper Cieran Slicker (left) reacts after Iceland’s third goal of the game.(Image: PA)
Scotland boss Steve Clarke said afterwards that Slicker ‘wasn’t ready for it’ and that he’d ‘see if anybody that is not on the beach is available to come’. Ross Doohan got the nod for the subsequent 4-0 win in Liechtenstein.
“I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t ready,” insists Slicker. “Not prepared is probably the correct way to put it.
“When Angus went down it was like, ‘Wow, I’m coming on’. It was really strange. It just didn’t feel real, to be honest. I didn’t feel like myself coming on. I wasn’t mentally prepared to play a game.
“I don’t want to make excuses, I know that I wasn’t good enough in the game, but the scenario in which I made debut wasn’t ideal.”
‘Horror debut’ headlines followed, something Slicker admits was tough.
“Playing for your country is every young footballer’s dream. It was my dream. So to do that and it not go to plan… Yeah, it was difficult,” he admits.
Cieran Slicker (centre) is consoled by Scotland team mates at the final whistle.(Image: PA)
“I didn’t really speak after the game. Credit to the boys, especially the senior boys, they got around me and said, ‘Don’t worry. It’s happened to all of us.’ At the time those words didn’t really mean too much to me though because I’m the harshest critic of myself.
“The next day, all the boys were on recovery but I just wanted to train. I trained well actually and I think the manager was happy that I’d gone out to try and brush it aside.
“It was a difficult moment, for sure. But I think, looking back at it now, it was a massive learning experience for me. It’s taught me to always expect the unexpected.
“There were times in the summer where I saw the odd thing and thought about it, but in general my mindset has been ‘it’s done now, learn and move on’. I’ve got belief in myself and I listen to the people whose opinions I trust the most.
“It’s made me realise that there’s always going to be noise – whether you’re doing well, whether you’re not. You just have to try and block it out and keep a level head. If I had played well then I would have been on top of the world, loving it and my confidence would have been booming. But because I didn’t, and because of the way things went, my mindset all summer was, ‘Right, I’ve got to lock in’.”
Cieran Slicker (left)doesn’t agree with Steve Clarke that he ‘wasn’t ready’ for his Scotland debut.(Image: PA)
He continues: “If I’m being honest, I don’t feel like I’ve made my debut for Scotland. I know there’s obviously a number next to my name now, but I don’t feel like I earned it.
“Before the game, I’d probably played six, seven professional games. If you look at any international player that’s making a debut, most of them have had seasons of playing and working their way up to get that moment.
“I was part of the squad because I train well and people can probably see my ability and potential. That’s what the manager’s probably gone off.
“Looking forward now, the feeling for me is that I’ve got to earn it the next time I play for Scotland. I got put into a scenario that was difficult for me, but having had a taste for it, it’s made me really want to get there again.”
Cieran Slicker says he’s learnt to block out the noise.(Image: PA)
Pep Guardiola put Slicker on the Man City bench five times, including a Champions League game against RB Leipzig. In 2023, however, the young keeper decided it was necessary to move on to develop his career.
“The plan was to develop at Ipswich in the first year and then go on loan the next year,” he explains. “At the start of last summer there were a few clubs interested and I was excited for it.
“Then things happened with the goalkeeper department – Vas (Hladky) leaving, new people coming in. I had a talk with the manager and he said he wanted me to stay.
“I was close with a lot of the boys, I’d say I was a good guy around the changing room, and I think that was maybe a part of it.”
Crucially, one of the players Slicker was particularly close with was new star striker Liam Delap. The two had forged a strong friendship in Man City’s academy and soon moved into a house together in Woodbridge. Delap went on to score 12 goals in an eye-catching debut Premier League season and earn a £30m move to Chelsea.
“I think you’ve seen on the video that got put out how it was with us two,” smiles Slicker, referring to the wholesome club footage in which Delap declared their home to be ‘the happiest in the UK’.
Cieran Slicker lived with Liam Delap during his impressive debut Premier League season for Town.(Image: Ross Halls)
“Me and Liam, we’ve been best friends for years now. I felt like I was his chef, his maid, I did the washing – I did everything! I said to Mark Ashton a few times that I should have got a bit of commission for every goal he scored!
“I’m only joking. It was obviously all down to him and the way he worked. When he first came in, the way we train was new to him and I probably had to guide him a little bit in terms of how it’s a bit more full-on at Ipswich. But he got used to it very quickly and everyone saw the outcome.
“Seeing him do well was amazing. If you’ve got a best friend and you see them flourish you’re buzzing for them. Now he’s a Club World Cup winner and playing in the Champions League. Obviously he’s out injured now, but I know he’s going to be back soon.
“As for me, yes, I was ready to go on loan last summer, but I wouldn’t change things if I could go back. Being in a Premier League squad gave me great exposure to the level of players and the quality and I got a taste of some of the biggest grounds in the country.”
Ipswich Town goalkeeper coach Rene Gilmartin is working closely with Cieran Slicker.(Image: Ross Halls)
Slicker may be out of sight, but he’s certainly not out of mind.
“I came back last Sunday and watched the derby with Mr Delap, so that was fun,” he says.
“I regularly speak about the games with Reg (Rene Gilmartin), the goalie coach, the sports science guys put programmes together for me, I speak to the analysts, even Shelly, the woman in the canteen, I still speak to her on Instagram now and again.
“I miss the place to be fair. I miss being around it and all the people. But obviously I’m enjoying playing games now as well.
“Over the last two years I’ve just been trying to improve, trying to step forward and stay on an upward trajectory to be ready for this moment.
“Me and Reg did a lot of work on video last season. Obviously there was no video of me playing, so I’d be watching the footage of Palms (Alex Palmer), Walts (Christian Walton), Aro (Muric). We’d study a lot of European goalkeepers too. The boy who’s just gone to PSG, (Lucas) Chevalier, we watched him loads because he’s probably a similar style to me.
“It would have been easy for me, just there as being a member of the team for training, to not go that extra step. But I think everyone saw the pathway for me, worked hard with me and I got a lot out of the two years.”
Asked if the pathway he mentions could eventually lead to becoming Ipswich Town No.1, Slicker replies: “That’s definitely my mindset. I love Ipswich, I love the town, I love the people, I love the county. I fell in love with it, to be fair, as soon as I joined.
“Ultimately, yeah, that’s what I want to do – I want to be Ipswich Town’s number one.
Cieran Slicker takes inspiration from Alex Palmer’s career.(Image: Ross Halls)
“Things can change so quickly in football, so I try not to look that far ahead. All I can control is obviously what I’m doing now.
“I think Palms is a great role model for me. I’ve spoken to him about how he was quite late going out on his first loan, similar age to me, and had two or three spells away before he broke through at West Brom. Now look at his career and the amount of games he’s played. That’s what I’m now aiming and striving to do.”
When this writer suggests he’s still very young in keeper terms, Slicker replies: “To be fair, I feel like I’m somewhat old and I should have been on loan five years ago and I should be 100 games in.
“Look at Traff (James Trafford, the keeper who made a £31m move back to Man City from Burnley this summer). I grew up with Traff, he had a base for loans when he was 18 and is doing amazing now.
“But then you could also look at some other goalies that had the loans at 18 and they probably missed out on the development I’ve had at Ipswich.
“Everyone has their own story. This is my story. The Scotland debut is part of my story now and I embrace that. It’s something I take with me. Hopefully in 10 years’ time, people will say, ‘That goalie’s played 100 games for Scotland, but his first one wasn’t too great.’
“And hopefully the Ipswich fans will come to not just know me as Liam Delap’s mate!”