Greg has had to grow up quickly
GREG DOCHERTY scored the goal which kept Hamilton Accies in the Premiership last season and he’s aiming to build on that success against Aberdeen this afternoon.
However, the 20-year-old striker revealed that if it hadn’t been for anger management, his career might have been over before he’d had the chance to turn pro.
Docherty admits that he regularly lost the plot and failed to last the full 90 minutes as a kid, and it took a heart-to-heart with his parents to turn things round for him.
“I wasn’t the easiest boy to coach when I was younger. I was a bit of a hot-head,” he said.
“I had a bad temper as a wee boy. I used to let my emotions get the better of me. Thankfully, I’ve grown out of that.
“At high school, I calmed down a bit and realised it wouldn’t benefit me. I learned the hard way early on.
“When things weren’t going my way on the pitch, I’d lose my temper. Looking back, I’m a bit embarrassed by it.
“It was starting to affect my performances. My parents had to sit me down and warn me to control it.
“I wasn’t being sent off in games – I was being taken off by my coaches before I got a red card!
“It wasn’t even tackles, it was tantrums, immature stuff. But I’ve not shown any of that recently.”
His winner against Dundee United in last season’s play-off final has put him off visiting Tayside, however.
“It was a really important goal, obviously the most important one I’ve ever scored,” he said.
“A lot of the comments were very flattering, from high-profile guys within the game.
“We were better than United over the two games. When I drove home that day, I was in the car myself and I could sit down and take in what had happened.
“I remember turning on the radio and it was an interview with me. That was totally bizarre!
“I had random people on social media giving me a bit of stick. Then I had Dundee fans messaging me.
“My profile pic was popping up on a few Dundee supporters’ Twitter accounts. So I think I’ll stay away from Dundee for a while.”