As a first International appearance beckons for frontman Ross Stewart following his recent call up to the national squad, we take a look back on his career and chart his remarkable rise up through the lower divisions in Scotland to get to where he is today.
He began his playing career dwelling in the lowest divisions in the Scottish Junior Leagues before he was given a chance by Ardeer Thistle. He spent two years at the club and gained promotion before joining Kilwinning Rangers who play in the West Of Scotland League. This is an amazingly low standard of football, comparable to the Northern League in England.
Stewart has a lot of love for the team known as the bucks as he gave them credit for teaching him his craft, saying that they “had a great dressing room and I learned a lot there about how to play as a striker, I took a lot from the experienced players – something I’ve done at every club I’ve been at– but it was a really combined effort there in terms of helping my game progress.”
It didn't take long before clubs in the higher divisions were taking notice of Ross, with Scottish League One side Albion Rovers trying to get his signature. The only issue was that the club were strapped for cash and couldn't afford the roughly £1500 fee.
It was reported that The Supporters Club for Albion Rovers had paid for some of the fee whilst Stewart's dad paid around £500 to ensure his son gets his dream move. A warming gesture that has well and truly paid off, a truly one off instance.
He spent one season with the Rovers and helped them stay in League One. He made the next step up with a move to St Mirren, but he was shipped back out to League One side Alloa Athletic in 2017. He had a great season with the Wasps, scoring seven goals and providing five assists as he helped the team gain promotion to the Championship.
Even with an impressive season he couldn't get into the Premiership side and he would need to take a backwards step to Ross County before he could experience the Scottish top flight.
In his first season with County he had won promotion to the Premiership whilst also winning the Scottish Challenge cup. In 21 appearances in the league he scored nine goals and assisted two whilst also scoring four goals in five games in the cup as they lifted the trophy. He did miss a few games with a hamstring injury too but thankfully he's come back and had no further issues for us. If his hamstring goes when he’s on international duty, I’d despair.
Ross County went up and Stewart marked the next step in his incredible journey. From the very depths of Scottish Football, having to have family and supporters chip in for his transfer fee, he had now arrived at the top level of Scottish football.
His best performance that season was against Celtic in the League Cup. Ross County won 2-0 as Stewart slotted one in from the penalty spot but what impressed people most was his ability to bully the defence with his physical abilities whilst also working his socks off for the cause, something which he has developed in England with us.
Now Ross is at his biggest club yet. This time however, his dad wouldn't cough up for his transfer fee to us, even if Stewart Donald was on the phone badgering him to chip in. From playing in front of a few Tennent’s drinking locals at a cow shed of a stadium in Killwilling, the Scottish striker, now christened the ‘Loch Ness Drogba’ is routinely playing in front of 30,000 supporters every other week (with the odd away match at a cowshed every now and again).
Last year he couldn't usurp the free scoring Charlie Wyke initially, but when he played he did seem to have more about him. He is the most complete forward we have had for a number of years and if we don't go up this season, no doubt he will attract many suitors.
Ross has worked tirelessly to get to where he is now and his talent and hard work is being recognised by those in the national team set up. Congratulations, Ross Stewart. Hopefully he will take us to the Premier League, as his song suggests, and his meteoric rise will continue.
