Peterhead midfielder Jamie Stevenson was at the centre of one of Scottish football’s more remarkable stories, so he sees no reason why he can’t be part of another by helping the Blue Toon defeat Rangers this weekend.
At the age of 18, Stevenson was spotted by a Real Majorca scout during a summer holiday kickabout in Costa d’en Blanes.
The midfielder had made only two first team starts for Alloa Athletic at the time after being released by Aberdeen for being too small.
The chance to trade Alloa’s Recreation Park for a move to Spain was too good an opportunity to to turn down, and so began a football adventure.
He said: “I was with Aberdeen until I was 16 or 17 under Chic McLelland and Drew Jarvie.
“They never offered me anything, but at that stage I was still tiny compared to everyone else.
“Hugh McCann coached me at under-16s with Aberdeen, but he left to go to Alloa and I went with him.
“I was in Spain on holiday and was playing for my uncle’s team in a seven-a-side league for expats.
“A scout appeared from nowhere and invited me for a trial with Majorca. We thought it was a wind-up but the letter arrived at Alloa soon after inviting me for the trial and it all materialised from there.”
During his 10-day trial, Stevenson impressed enough to earn a two year deal with the Spanish side, who were sitting second in the Primera Division at the time and included Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o in their ranks.
But after 18 months, Stevenson was suffering from homesickness and decided to return to Scotland. The Spanish club was keen to keep him and part of his release stipulated he could only return to Alloa, which he did in 2004.
He said: “When I signed for Real Majorca I got a two-year deal initially and after six months I got a one-year extension. I was playing for the B team and would train with the first team every so often. I learned a lot from the experience. I grew up quite a bit and experienced playing in a different culture and learned a different language.
“I got homesick really badly and decided to come back to Scotland.
“It possibly came a couple of years two early for me but it was good to learn a different way of playing football. There is a bit of a regret that I came home when I did, but these things happen for a reason.”
Stevenson knows the odds will be stacked against his side when they line up against Rangers at Hampden.
But the 31-year-old, who has enjoyed spells at Morton, East Stirling, Airdrie United and Cowdenbeath, feels the Blue Toon are capable of causing a major upset.
He said: “Stranger things have happened than Peterhead beating Rangers in a cup final.
“It is a national final at Hampden so it will be the biggest match of my career. I know it is not a normal game but we just need to approach it as normally as we can. Most of my family support the other team in Glasgow so it hasn’t been too hard to entice them along. Normally it is my mum, dad and grandad who come along to all my games but this time there will be a few more. I think that is the same for all the players in the team so hopefully it is a day to remember.”