Robertson’s return to his roots could spark a revival in the Blue Toon
They were the nearest thing Scottish football has ever had to “I’m a Celebrity” – and compulsive viewing as a result.
“Real Kashmir FC” and “Return to Real Kashmir FC”, two BBC Scotland documentaries which shadowed David Robertson as he plied his trade as a football boss in the most-militarised zone in the world.
The former Rangers and Aberdeen full-back has just been appointed manager of Peterhead, and surely nothing he has to endure in his new venture will come close to matching Kashmir for sheer drama
The euphemistic way of describing life in the region fought over by India and Pakistan is to suggest it poses a set of unique challenges.
In Robertson’s reality, it emerged, that meant waking on the morning of a match to learn the game could be off because of four killings overnight.
His experience was of a land where internet and phone connections could go down for a fortnight, and where getting to an away game could be an adventure in its own right, requiring multiple days and multiple flights.
Yet against the odds, the Aberdonian thrived. He led the Snow Leopards – Real Kashmir’s splendid nickname – to promotion to India’s top division, and won the British Empire Medal for services to the local community and for UK and India relations.
Best of all, he did it in a terrifically watchable manner.
Hewouldblowupatofficials,at members of the opposition camp and, of course, at his own players, and do so in language that must have been barely intelligible to almost all of them.
Almost, because among the cast was his son Mason, who Robertson signed in part to help the team – which he absolutely did – and in part to ensure his wife Kym, another who appeared on the show, would be sure to visit.
However, having created what was by his own description a: “bit of a monster in Indian football”, he decided to return to Scotland in search of a “little bit more sanity”.
If fans here of a more-cynical disposition might suggest that plan is a little like heading to the Antarctic to get a heat, it is worth pointing out Robertson does have experience here.
He has had stints with both Elgin City and Montrose, albeit his most-recent stint, at Links Park, was still 15 years ago.
The fact that for the majority of that time, Peterhead were led by the same man – Jim McInally – means he will have big shoes to fill.
McInally was the longest-serving manager in Scotland with 11 years at Balmoor prior to his recent resignation.
Under his charge, the Blue Toon won the League Two title twice and also reached the Challenge Cup Final.
This season, though, has been a struggle with the club at the foot of League One when he left.
What happens next is the interesting thing, and not just because of Robertson’s colourful history.
Peterhead, whose history stretches back to 1890, have to treat this time as one of renewal and a fresh start for all.
Of course, as at all levels of the Scottish game, finance will be key.
At the beginning of the season, McInally complained of being unable to compete in terms of wages with Lowland League clubs.
Yet as much as the Board will be doing everything in their power to make fund available for his successor, it is also a question of approach.
Robertson spoke of going back to his North-East roots, and Peterhead can be expected to do likewise.
That might well mean the recruitment of an assistant manager with strong Highland League roots, the better to pick up a volume of promising young talents from that level.
Focusing on their local area would follow the strong example set by Premiership neighbours, Aberdeen.
Calvin Ramsay, a city-born academy graduate, was sold to Liverpool for a club record £4.25 million. Connor Barron, the next big hope, is from nearby Kintore.
Those success stories will absolutely strike a chord with Robertson.
He followed the same path himself, signing for the Dons as an “S” form before going onto bigger, better and – in the case of his Kashmir experience – more bizarre things.