Family fortune sees Peterborough punt pay off for Naismith
WHEN immediate family history features the idea to quit a promising bank job for a milk run round Paisley’s Ferguslie Park, Jason Naismith can be excused for prevaricating profusely over tough career choices.
However, not only did that initially concerning notion by dad George — ‘I think my grandma was going to throttle him’ — work out wonderfully well but Naismith is quite impressed by his own decision-making these days.
The 24-year-old believes an 18-month spell in Dingwall with Ross County enabled him to concentrate fully on his football away from the comforts and distractions of the west of Scotland, paving the way for much interest in his services in the spring.
A break in English football was plotted after knocking back Aberdeen, Naismith now fully invigorated by rejecting another Scottish season and savouring the challenges of a promotion campaign with a clutch of fellow Scots at Peterborough United.
Which brings us back to one of the newest and keenest followers of ‘The Posh’.
Naismith’s dad has the finances and the freedom to fly around the south with wife Catherine to catch their son starring for his new team. Naismith senior established a dairy business 12 years ago, the success of which has permitted them to provide the best support network possible as the defender finds his feet in the English game.
The former St Mirren full-back explained: ‘My dad worked in a bank and became a milkman — and it’s inspiring to me that he worked away and did that and went on to build up his own business.
‘He’s worked hard to be privileged enough to do this now, in a good position with his own business to have time off to come down and follow me.
‘They’ll be down for every home game, I pick them up. And they’re talking about Blackpool away and stuff like that, using it for weekends away. It’s great for them and it helps me that they’re supporting me.
‘They’re up for the 46-game season. My dad is made for it, he goes to every game. His Exeter flight for the Plymouth game got cancelled the other week. He doesn’t know what to do with himself when he’s not got the football.
‘They did everything to help me get to where I am. To take me everywhere, all the travelling involved in youth football, St Mirren training three nights a week and at the time they didn’t have the training ground at Ralston. It was Erskine one night, Ferguslie Park the next. That’s where his milk run started, actually.’
When Ross County were relegated, Naismith’s prospects were never going to turn sour as there was sufficient interest on both sides of the border. Approaching a crossroads on his journey, he was persuaded by veteran English lower-league manager Steve Evans to snub staying in the Scottish top flight. He is joined at Peterborough by a clan of Jason Cummings, ex-Hamilton midfielder Darren Lyon and former Kilmarnock and Dundee man Mark O’Hara.
‘I had a feeling with Ross County, I thought that was the right move for me at the time and it worked out right,’ said Naismith.
‘I got away from Paisley and Glasgow and got up there to concentrate on football. That was brilliant for me.
‘I got the same kind of feeling here.
‘Peterborough wanted me a lot. So, in the end, it was an easy decision. But it wasn’t at the start, with the other offers. I’m a home bird, really. My head was all over the place, to be honest.
‘It is a bit far away but something you need to do for your career. Experiencewise it’s great. I’d played every stadium in Scotland, I think. Now everything is a lot fresher, going to different places — once a year, playing against different players. The football is different and that’s hopefully only good for my development. ‘It could open a lot of doors. A direct route to the Championship, a top league to progress your career, if we do well. If I’d let this opportunity pass me by and in five or six years never got the opportunity to come back, then I’d always think: “What if?” The Scottish boys here help the settlingin process. I think we’ve taken over the changing room already!
‘Cummings said to me when we first arrived about sharing digs but I thought: “That could be the worst move of my career!” He agreed, to be fair, so we sacked that right away.’
Peterborough’s stunning start to the season has them bang in the early promotion picture. As for a personal ambition of further his Scotland prospects, Naismith (left) suspects a patient approach will be required.
There is no depth at right-back available to Alex McLeish. However, League One is an unlikely hunting ground for Scotland internationals despite the success of Charlie Mulgrew at Blackburn Rovers last term.
‘I’d imagine I might need to prove myself at a higher level first,’ conceded Naismith. ‘Charlie played for Scotland while in League One. But he’s a top player. In fact, he was my toughest opponent. He played left midfield when I was a young player at St Mirren and he taught me a lesson.
‘When the teamsheet came out, I was rubbing my hands because Celtic had unbelievable wingers at the time and Charlie was in there instead. But I came off with my head in my hands. I thought: “Oh my God, I can’t believe it, I’m miles off it.”
‘He was that good. He’s done it at the highest level and if I can have half the career he had, then I’d be delighted. It might be hard for me to get noticed in League One but you can only do as well as you can at the level you’re playing at. I just need to take care of club business first.’
My dad became a milkman and it is inspiring to me that he worked away and went on to build up his own business