A quick glance at David Wotherspoon’s World Cup squad profile reveals a list of his former clubs.
Bridge of Earn youths, Celtic, Hibs and of course St Johnstone are among those jotted down. No real surprises.
Yet swivel your eyes back to the start of the text on the official Canada Soccer website and one other team proudly makes the cut: Abernethy Cubs.
It was there, on the hallowed turf of Powrie Park, where Wotherspoon perhaps started to get his first taste of competitive football. He was the top scorer three years in a row from 1998-2001.
“David should’ve been eight years old to be playing in the cubs team, but we would sneak him in,” smiled Gordon Miller, a Saints season ticket holder who was coach of the Abernethy Cubs football team.
"We used to pretend he was wee for his age. He was playing in the number 10 role at that time and we would basically say give him the ball.”
It was not long before Wotherspoon’s close control and eye for a pass and finish were turning heads.
And Miller quickly realised that here was a young lad who had real potential to take his talents to a grander stage.
He explained to the PA: “He won all of our trophies, the player of the year and all the rest of it.
“I said to him, when he was about nine years old, that there is no doubt in my mind you will lift the cup some day. And of course he did with St Johnstone.”
Miller, with the smile again appearing on his face, revealed: “Another time I teased him saying, when you go to the World Cup, remember and get me a ticket. Here we are now.”
When news broke on Sunday that Wotherspoon was indeed going to the World Cup with the Canadian national team, Miller was understandably thrilled.
“I was really hoping he was going to make it because he deserves this,” he said. “I’m really chuffed for him.
“While he was always an absolute natural, he obviously works hard too. I know he works very hard.”
Wotherspoon signed a professional contract with his local team Saints, who he supported as a boy, back in 2013. For Miller that was a landmark moment and made trips to McDiarmid Park even more enjoyable.
He said: “From the moment he came to St Johnstone in 2013, there is no doubt it became the greatest ever period. I remember that first game against Rosenborg.
“He might go on and get the record amount of appearances but, even if he doesn’t, he is the greatest ever Saints player.
“The only surprise for me is that David is not playing at a bigger team - which I’m absolutely chuffed about!”
Despite Wotherspoon’s continuing success in a Perth jersey - and the Canada national team - he has never forgotten about his first steps in the beautiful game.
Miller explained: “I drop him a message every now and again. David has never forgotten his roots.
“He obviously went to Perth High School and this is fairytale stuff. He has natural ability but his attitude and professionalism is second to none.
“David has come back to the Abernethy Cubs and did a training session with us. He even donated training balls.
“He is a role model for all the young kids out there. He is the model professional.”
One final question was necessary and it centred around whether Miller was responsible for teaching Wotherspoon the piece of trickery now renowned as the ‘Spoony Chop’.
“The Spoony chop wasn’t me,” he admits with a laugh.
“I think I probably taught him the bit where he swore on television after the cup final last year!”
