What Scott’s doing will never be repeated here

Pittman set to break records and be Livi legend

Just a few years ago Scott Pittman thought he might never play SPFL football.

Now he’s on the verge of breaking Livingston’s Premiership appearance record as he prepares for his 124th top flight game for the club when they face Hibs on Saturday.

He’s also just two appearances away from breaking the 300-mark since joining the club from Bo’ness United in 2015 and will likely break Keaghan Jacobs’ club record of 309 games early next season.

It’s a remarkable rise given he was signed from Bo’ness United as a 22-year-old and was still playing third tier football at the age of 24.

And there’s no signs of him slowing down, with the Lions all but guaranteeing themselves a fifth straight year in the top flight following last weekend’s win over Aberdeen.

Speaking to the Courier, he said: “Breaking club records was something that never entered my mind when I signed for the club.

Obviously coming from the Juniors, it was a big step up to start with but I felt I coped well and I’ve been enjoying my football ever since I signed.

“Getting most appearances for the club in the Premiership is definitely something to be proud of – it doesn’t feel like that long ago we were still in League One.”

He added: “I always had the belief that I could play senior football but there were definitely points when I thought it might not happen.

“I had a few unsuccessful trials and I was still playing Junior football at 22, so you do begin to wonder whether it’s something that will happen.

“Thankfully I was given a chance at Livingston, but to be honest I wasn’t too sure if I was ready for it. They were in the Championship so it was a huge step up from Bo’ness United.

“I felt that I was able to adapt in training and in games fairly quickly and it’s worked out well since.”

The energetic 29-year-old has, unsurprisingly, attracted interest from others during his time at the club, but admits he simply enjoys life at

Livingston too much to want to leave.

He said: “I’ve been enjoying my football at Livingston since the first day so why would I move on?

“That’s the most important thing, you need to be enjoying being at a club and I love it at Livingston. It’s my local team and I stay 10 minutes from the ground so it’s perfect.

“Hopefully there’s a few more seasons in the Premiership to come.”

Livi boss David Martindale, a former team-mate and assistant manager of Pittman at Broxburn Athletic, says the midfielder’s name will forever be etched in the club’s history.

He said: “Scott Pittman will set records that will never be broken at Livingston Football Club. What he’s done and what he will continue to do for this club will never happen again.

“It’s an incredible achievement and it really couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. The level of consistency in his performances has been remarkable and he’s deserved everything he’s achieved in his career.”

He added: “We played together in midfield at Broxburn Athletic and I was assistant manager as well with his dad being the manager and Gary Maley as the goalie.

“He’d do my running and I’d do his talking. It was great to play alongside him and we’d been trying for ages to get him into the senior ranks when he was at Broxburn.

“He’d had a few unsuccessful trials – including two at Livi – but when I had the opportunity to join Livi and then further down the line took the lead with the recruitment, he was someone I wanted at the club.

“Mark Burchill was the boss at the time and I remember saying to him that we’ll give him six months and if it didn’t work out we’d move him on in the summer. I think it’s fair to say it’s worked out.

“His first goal for the club was the Petrofac Cup final and I remember looking into the stands and seeing his dad nearly in tears. It was a really emotional moment.

“What he’s since gone on to achieve for this football club is hard to put into words.”