Ross Matthews admits he loved playing football at school — the only problem was Stewart’s Melville College in Edinburgh was a rugby-only establishment.
That meant his mum had to “try” her best to persuade his head teacher to release him from some of his obligations to the oval ball game.
That perseverance paid off and her son is now carving out his preferred career with Raith Rovers.
Today Matthews’ club will play Falkirk at Stark’s Park as they look to stay in touch with leaders Hibs at the top of the Championship.
The 20-year-old said: “I went to Stewart’s Melville, which is a rugby school.
“You had to play rugby twice a week but one of the games was during school and the other was after so I used to get out of one to play football.
“My mum used to have a few arguments with the head teacher to try to get me out of rugby.
“But I was terrible at it – I could run but that was about it.
“I was stuck out on the wing and only played a couple of games for the 3rd or 4th team.
“Jonny Court who is also at Raith was good at rugby and Edinburgh and Scotland tried to get him to sign but he chose football instead.
“We were both at the same school together.
“But rugby was never a career option for me – I was brutal at it!”
While Matthews tried his best to get out of rugby, he insists he would play anywhere for Raith.
He regards centre midfield as his best position but so far this season he has mainly been used on the right while last week at Forfar in the Irn-Bru Cup, he did a job in defence standing in for suspended skipper Jason Thomson.
Rovers slumped to a shock 3-2 defeat at Station Park but overall Matthews reckons they can be happy with the start they have made to the season.
He said: “I was at right-back last week but I had played there before for the Under-20s.
“I also played in a friendly against Edinburgh City a couple of seasons ago.
“I don’t really mind it, to be honest. I am just happy to be playing.
“Jason is back from suspension this Saturday, though.
“Apart from last week, our start to the season has gone well and the league form has been really good.
“I’m just delighted to be playing. Last season, I came on as a sub a few times but I have had a few starts so far this campaign and I am hoping to keep that up.
“I only had a few starts last year but they were against Hibs, Celtic and Rangers.
“I couldn’t really complain as I was playing in the games everyone wanted to play in.
“But I am still young and I just want to take part in as many games as I can.
“I have been right mid this season and I prefer to play centrally but the main thing is to be playing games.”
Raith boss Gary Locke and his assistant Darren Jackson have certainly shown their faith in Matthews so far and he admits he was just determined to impress the new management team at the start of pre-season.
The player added: “The gaffer spoke to everyone as a whole and said there is competition for places.
“So I just tried to impress in pre-season – basically make him like me! I hope I have done that.
“Last year when Ray McKinnon came in, we still had Laurie Ellis here but this year has been totally different with the gaffer and Jacko coming in.
“It was a clean slate and a good chance to impress.”
