From midfield to defence

Conor looks to the law

Johnstone footballer Conor McArthur is getting set to swap attacking goals for defending clients as he heads on a life changing switch to America.

The 21-year-old former St Mirren and Clyde midfielder is preparing to travel to St Louis Community College, Missouri to take up a scholarship which will see him combine his football with a degree in Business and Law.

It is a long way for the man who admits he misbehaved his way through school, struggling to commit himself to his studies.

But knowing that he had to knuckle down to achieve his aim of moving to the US, McArthur has thrown his all into making the move a possibility.

He told Express Sport: “It has been a long process to get this far and I have had to go back to college in order to get the necessary grades. I wasn’t the best behaved person in school.

“But I have worked hard over the last couple of years to make this a real possibility. I was meant to be going last year but my grades just weren’t good enough and I have had to keep studying – my football was good enough but my marks weren’t.

“The older you get the more you realise that your dream of playing football may be slipping away and it is time to turn your attention to something else. My education and getting a degree is what is most important to me now.

“I have always had an interest in law and becoming a lawyer is what I want to do. I like the idea of defending people.”

An extensive youth career also saw McArthur take the unusual step of playing in Finland after catching the eye of a top-flight scout in Blackpool.

Finnish giants HJK Helsinki invited the former Gryffe High School pupil over for a trial, where he impressed and was offered a deal. But there was a hitch. The contract on offer to the then 17-year-old would see him without pay for the first six months, something which just wasn’t practical for the youngster.

McArthur added: “I got the offer to go over there and I thought I may as well.

“I impressed at the time and they wanted me to stay but it just wasn’t workable. I was only young and to move thousands of miles away for no pay just wouldn’t have worked.”

But having rubbed shoulders with the likes of Stevie Mallan during his career in the St Mirren youth set-up, McArthur insists now is the time to look ahead.

He said: “You don’t get opportunities like this every day and it is something that I need to seize.

“My parents are delighted for me and have really pushed me over the last couple of years to help me realise my ambitions.

“I’ve also got to thank my partner, Demi. I’ve been with her since I was 15 and she has been a great influence for me and kept me focused.

“I can’t wait to get started over there.”