Lenny Wilson learned a lot from Greg Fleming and now hopes to replace him between Peterhead’s posts.
The goalkeeper joined the Blue Toon last August and spent all of last campaign on the bench with Fleming in possession of the No 1 shirt at Balmoor.
However, Fleming has left the Buchan outfit this summer to join Stranraer and Wilson hopes he can fill his boots when next season gets underway in October.
The 23-year-old said: “I did learn a lot from Greg. When I was 16 or 17 and on the bench at Arbroath I didn’t really take it in or watch other people and learn from it.
“Every Saturday and at every training sessions you could see why Greg had the reputation of being one of the best keepers in the league.
“So I had a great opportunity to learn from him and he was a great consistent performer for Peterhead.
“In terms of kicking I don’t think I’ve seen a keeper as good as Greg, I don’t think I saw him mis-hit one which is some feat when you consider at Balmoor some days you can be playing in hurricane-like conditions.
“Not only is he a great goalkeeper but he’ll be a great coach one day because some of the stuff we did at training and some of the advice he could give you was top-class.
“I think there was a mutual respect and maybe he could see that I was capable of playing at that level.
“I tried to do my best for him in terms of pushing him in training and in the warm-up before games making sure he was prepared.
“We always got along well in training and on matchdays and he helped me a lot.
“In the nicest way possible while it’s disappointing that he’s left it’s perhaps an opportunity for me to step in, although I’ve got big boots to fill, but I’m relishing the chance.”
Wilson joined Peterhead last year having returned from four years in America where he combined playing football with studying for a business and economics degree Hartwick College and St John’s University in New York.
The former Arbroath player admits Blue Toon supporters might not know what to expect from him, but hopes to show what he’s capable of.
He added: “When I joined I don’t think people really knew what to expect because I was coming from the States and the US college system.
“Fans probably wouldn’t know how playing at that level might compare to playing in League One which is fair enough.
“When I first went out to America I didn’t know how good the standard was and I was taken aback by how good it was.
“But at the end of the day I’ve got to get games under my belt now so show the level I’m up to.
“But the conversations with the manager I had before lockdown and after some of the friendlies we had during the season I feel I would be able to step into the team and hopefully make the No 1 shirt my own.”
