The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Matthews joined by Celtic midfielder on new language course
Callum Mcgregor can walk the walk on a football pitch.
But it’ll be a while before he can talk the talk in Spanish class.
That’s the verdict of Raith Rovers midfielder Ross Matthews, who was stunned to find himself on a language course with the Celtic superstar.
The pair are taking advantage of the free tutorials being offered by players’ union PFA Scotland, with Matthews and Mcgregor joined by fellow pros Danny Denholm, Steve Davies, Scott Robertson and Murray Mackintosh.
The lockdown learning is taking place over video conferencing platform Zoom under the watchful eye of teacher Miriam Maraver – and Matthews admits he had no idea he would be honing his skills alongside the Scotland ace.
Matthews smiled: “Callum (Mcgregor) was all right but we were all in the same boat. We just had to repeat things that the teacher said and none of us were great first time around. But that’s what it’s all about.
“We’ve only done one lesson but there was a lot to take in – I thought the first day might be a wee bit easier.
“I’ve spent the last couple of day trying to memorise Spanish numbers! Hopefully, I’ll at least be able to order myself a pint the next time I go.
“I had no idea who was going to be on the course. I was just hoping there’d be someone I knew. I was supposed to be doing it with (Raith team-mate) Lewis Vaughan but I think he pulled out at the last minute. So he’s done me there!
“It was a really good group of guys. I know Scott Robertson pretty well – he was at Raith with me – and everybody had a bit of banter. It was actually just nice to socialise and get a bit of camaraderie going again. You do miss that.”
Matthews is no stranger to selfimprovement and readily admits that he is already preparing for a life after football.
He has already secured a higher national certificate (HNC) in engineering through PFA Scotland and acknowledges that players at his level must be ready for any eventuality.
Matthews was pivotal in Raith’s successful promotion bid in League One this term and boasts 168 appearances for the Fifers. However, he is out of contract next month and knows nothing can be taken for granted amid the Covid-19 crisis.
He continued: “I think about what I’m going to do after football all the time. When you play at our level then you are living on year to year contracts. You don’t know what is going to happen.
“I’m not signed for next year and during this lockdown I’ve been considering what I would do if I did need to go and work.
“Every player who is out of contract this summer will be thinking the same thing. Even if, for argument’s sake, I am going to be offered something by Raith, no one knows when that contract will start because no one knows when the 2020/21 season will start. There is so much unknown.
“I might have to work for a couple of months just to get some money in and I know there will be plenty of guys in worse situations than me.”
Nevertheless, Matthews has nothing but praise for the Rovers hierarchy, from manager John Mcglynn to chairman Bill Clark, and is adamant they are enduring the same lack of clarity as the players.
The Stark’s Park academy product added: “The gaffer and Smudger (Paul Smith, assistant) have been incredible through this. They have been phoning all the players every week or two and keeping in touch. I’ve spoken to the chairman a few times as well.
“They are telling us everything they know, but they are waiting for clarity from the SFA, SPFL and even the government. It’s a waiting game right now.”