On-loan Raith keeper Aaron Lennox has revealed how he was between the sticks while on trial at Spurs trying to save shots from a certain Dimitar Berbatov – at the tender age of 14.
It was just one stop on a long and winding road that has taken the Aberdeen player all the way from his homeland in Australia to Kirkcaldy.
Now 23, the keeper joined Rovers on loan from parent club Aberdeen earlier this summer with the player keeping a clean sheet last Saturday against Arbroath at Gayfield.
The experienced Kevin Cuthbert is expected to back between the sticks as Gary Locke’s side kick off tonight in the Betfred Cup against Cove Rangers at Station Park.
However, Lennox, who has played for his country at Under-17, 20 and 23 level, is determined to push “Cat” all the way this season.
Lennox said: “I first came over to the UK when I was 14 with my local club for a 10-day tour just to see what life was like on the other side of the world.
“I then went and trained at Charlton and I was the only goalkeeper in my group.
“The goalie coach there liked me and recommended me to a guy at Tottenham.
“He took me there for a one-day trial when I was 14. I trained with the reserves in the morning and then with the first-team in the afternoon.
“This was when Dimitar Berbatov was there so I was doing a shooting session with him when I was 14 years old.
“Spurs were quite impressed and I stayed in contact with them but then I went back home.
“I got into the Australian teams and the Australian Institute of Sport where I spent two years on a scholarship.
He added: “When I hit 18, I came back across to the UK. The Tottenham goalie roster was full so they put me into contact with the keeping coach at Queens Park Rangers.
“I thought I did well there and signed a year’s deal. Halfway through that, I was absolutely flying and was given another two and a half years.
“When that finished, I received an offer from back in Australia but I turned it down to stay in the UK.
“But I then went through the last six or seven months of last season without a club before going to Kilmarnock to train and that’s when I first met the gaffer (Locke).
“Then I went away on international duty in January and when I got back, Aberdeen said they would like me to get me in and I signed a contract until the end of the season.
“I played loads for the Under-20s and got my first start against Ross County on the last day of the season.
“Then I got a call when I was on holiday about coming to Raith and straight away I said, ‘Yes, that would be ideal’.
“Things were sorted and I came in on the first day. I am really enjoying my time here.”
One of the reasons for that is the work Lennox does with Cuthbert on the training field.
While the pair get on really well, the younger keeper is determined to mount a big bid to win the No.1 jersey.
He added: “I am always up for a fight and a challenge.
“Since I came in, he’s been brilliant and teaching me lots of little things.
“I have been learning off him, listening and watching how he interacts with the other players, how he deals with different situations.
“But I still want to really challenge for the jersey and put myself forward to show I am best for the team at that time.”
