FOR Calvin Ramsay there was no need to fear the reality of meeting with a boyhood hero close up. Andrew Considine was the favourite for The DoubleTree By Hilton SFWA Young Scottish Player of the Year growing up.
Ramsay has shot to prominence this term as he has been the one shining light in a season of doom and gloom for the Pittodrie side. And it was Considine who helped to show him the ropes this term in his first full senior season.
“As soon as I got thrown in I know I had to learn quickly,” he said. “I would say Andy Considine was really good with me. He is really experienced and has been there a long time.
He has helped me a lot but all the boys have given me little bits of advice in their own different ways. I appreciate it all. I would probably say Andy [was my favourite player growing up.] I like watching him. He supported Aberdeen and knows what it means.”
As does Ramsay himself. Which means that there is no escape when the season offers up the kind of challenges that it has this year.
“I am local, supported Aberdeen my whole life and came right the way through the academy from nine years old,” he said. “It was a dream for me to play for Aberdeen. As soon as I got the call to play first-team I wanted to give my all.
“Obviously I want the best for the club so I put pressure on myself to perform as best I can and help the club out. I know what it means to the fans because I am one too. It has not been great this season hut we know that we are better than that and next season we will show that.
“My dad is a big Aberdeen fan, lifelong, so when we have not had a good result I have to go home and listen to him!”
The teenager has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer on the back of a season in which he has featured 33 times for the Pittodrie side. Such talk is reflective of the weight of his season but he remains impressively grounded.
“I want to play as many first team games as I can,” he said. “I can’t really help the speculation. If I’m doing well in the Aberdeen first team there will be people looking.
“This has been a great start to my career. No matter what I go on and do I will always look back on my first season in professional football as something that has stood me in good stead.
“The biggest thing I have learned is probably just how to play against men. I’m young and the game is physical. I have enjoyed it, learning how important winning is.
“I thought I could do it because I believe in my ability. But I loved it and it has been a great experience for me.”
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