Up business as injury setback

“It made that period a lot easier to deal with.

“I love football but if everything you do is wrapped up in that, then it’s not the best. A lot of the boys have different ways to switch off and this is mine.”

Souttar is no mere angel investor. He provides plenty of graft to go with the capital.

As Tele Sport arrives in the unit on the outskirts of Brechin town centre, he is toiling behind the bar.

Souttar and Spark both underwent several intensive courses to learn about roasting beans, barista work and the moral imperatives within the industry.

Going a step beyond Fair Trade, Maison Deiu deals directly with specific farms to ensure growers get the right price.

“We work with a guy who is originally from Guatemala but lives in Glasgow,” continued Souttar.

“He goes back over there and visits nine farms – it is his old school mates who own them.

“So he’s been on FaceTime saying, ‘we’ve got footballers over in Scotland using your coffee’ and they’re buzzing with that.

“I’ve known Sparky since we were five or six,” smiled Souttar.

“We went to the same primary school.

“It’s fair to say we never imagined we’d be doing this when we were at Dundee United!”

The suggestion that this could be the start of a coffee empire is met with a laugh and a shrug. One step at a time.

For the moment, Souttar is content serving the community he calls home.

“Kayley is able to spend time here and, because it’s in Brechin, our families can come along,” he added.

“It just brings everyone together – and that’s something we want to do here.

“This is my home and I always wanted to give something back.”

struggles he underwent last season.