A Perth schoolboy who had to return to his studies the morning after the biggest football game of his life is enjoying “getting stick” from his friends.
Christopher Scott, 17, hit the post for Arbroath FC on Monday night against Rangers in what is turning out to be a season to remember for the Perth Academy pupil.
The midfielder, who was signed from local club St Johnstone FC at the end of last season, played 67 minutes of the League One match at Gayfield Park, Arbroath, and admitted while he was “really nervous” before stepping on to the pitch, he thoroughly enjoyed the occasion which was beamed live across the nation on TV.
With experienced professionals such as Bobby Linn and Ross Chisholm in the Arbroath dressing room, it was no surprise to Christopher when he was wound up after the 3-0 home defeat to the Glasgow club, whose fans swelled the crowd to a healthy 3,912.
“I got a lot of stick from most of the players afterwards but it was just good banter,” he said.
“It was a great experience and I got a lot of abuse from the Rangers fans but I didn’t mind. I hit the post when we were 3-0 down but enjoyed the game.”
Christopher is the latest teenager to turn out for a Tayside club, with 16-year-old Craig Wighton attracting attention at Dundee FC and a host of youths at neighbours Dundee United grabbing the headlines.
The Perth Academy pupil admitted the Rangers game made him nervous but his schoolmates brought him down to earth the following day.
“I got some stick from my friends on Tuesday morning back at school,” he said.
“The Rangers game was my fourth first team game this season. I made my debut against Dunfermline Athletic FC at their ground and I was nervous before that game.”
Christopher, who trains twice a week with the Arbroath first team and once with the under-19s, was a youth signing for the Angus club and is keen to make football his career, but he is still sticking in at school where he is studying for three Higher exams.
“I like Paul Sheerin (the Arbroath manager) and there are a good bunch of players at Arbroath,” he said.