Jamie McCart is fully focused on the future. A new club, a new league, a new direction for his career.
He’s excited about what lies ahead for him and Rotherham United in the English Championship. But for any player who played for St Johnstone in season 2020/21, it’s almost impossible not to look back as well. To reflect on the most incredible year in the club’s history. To reminisce about two glory days at Hampden. To wonder how the hell they managed to do what they did – and if it will EVER be done again.
And who can blame them? Just 16 months have passed since Saints lifted the Scottish Cup, their second major trophy in one truly unimaginable campaign. Their League Cup triumph was incredible. But to do the double? That made manager Callum Davidson and his players immortal in Perth and beyond. McCart is now settling into life in Yorkshire, having left McDiarmid Park in the summer.
At 25, his peak years as a centre-back are very much in front of him. But McCart reckons that, even when he has retired and hung up his boots, the magnitude of what he achieved two years ago will be difficult to comprehend.
He told MailSport : “When you’re in a moment like that, you probably don’t really take it all in. Even now it’s hard to really appreciate how special it was. It could be years before we actually realise just how unreal and unprecedented it was.
“In fact, I don’t think anyone at St Johnstone has properly processed it yet. I remember after the Scottish Cup Final, we were all in the stadium having a drink.
“None of us could really believe what had just happened. Having Shaun Rooney shouting in our ears didn’t help, right enough!
“That summer, even with time to reflect on it, none of us truly appreciated the enormity of winning two cups. It was an incredible achievement and I’m just proud to have been part of it.
“It will probably never be done again. It might be 10 or 15 years, when we get to look back and think: ‘I actually did that.’ As a footballer, you’re always thinking about the next game. It’s hard to sit and be reflective.
“But it’s something that can never be taken away from those players, the management and the club as a whole.”
McCart’s final season at the club wasn’t so memorable. It began with a European glamour tie against Turkish giants Galatasaray – and ended with a relegation play-off win over Inverness to salvage their top-flight status.
McCart admits that after reaching the top of the mountain by lifting two trophies, a drop was inevitable. But overall, as a two-year experience, he values every moment – both good and bad.
He said: “I had a brilliant time at St Johnstone even though we had two very contrasting seasons before I left. I would not change it for the world. I played just over 100 games in two years which was great for me.
“From the highs of the cup wins and playing against Galatasaray to a few real lows the following season. But that’s the nature of football.
“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what happened last season. After winning the cups there was definitely a bit of: ‘Where do we go from here’?
“But a few different things happened at Saints. We sold two massive players in Jason Kerr and Ali McCann.
“People forget we also lost Craig Conway, who was incredible for us in the cup runs, and Guy Melamed, who scored important goals.
“We were without David Wotherspoon for a year through injury and he was huge for that team with his creativity. So that was five players who were all starters the previous season.
“The squad should still have been good enough to aim for top six in the Premiership. But ultimately St Johnstone’s first target every year is to stay in the league – and we did that.”
Now McCart has different ambitions. Rotherham may be one of the more unfashionable outfits in the English Championship. But in Paul Warne, they have a bright, innovative young coach who has defied the odds just by getting the Millers into the league.
McCart has been used sparingly from the bench so far as United sit pretty at ninth in the table.
The defender is relishing the challenge and confident enough in his ability to eventually make his mark on Warne’s team. And after his success at St Johnstone, taking on Championship big boys like Sheffield United, Norwich and Sunderland certainly won’t worry the Scot.
He said: “The Championship is hectic with 46 games so it’s a different level of fitness down here. I’ve enjoyed that so far. I haven’t started too many games yet so it’s difficult to compare the football to the Scottish Premiership.
“But we have a tendency up north not to promote our game as much as we should. We tend to down-play Scottish football too much.
“There is always a bit of adjustment when you move to a new club, irrespective of what league or country it is. But I believe I’m ready to start now. I will always back myself.
“I just need to be patient and wait for my opportunity. I won’t be fazed by big games or big-name opposition down here. I’ve played at Rangers, Celtic and won cups at Hampden. But I also need to have a bit of humility and accept that I’m coming into a new league – and a really difficult one. I just need to be focused on every game that’s in front of me.”
And looking back at a few from those Saints days won’t do McCart any harm either.
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