Gavin Scott has had quite the twelve months.

Having graduated from Grange Academy in 2017, Gavin was released by Kilmarnock in the same year.

He began playing for junior side Maybole but was soon picked up by Stranraer.

Less than a year on from playing purely for enjoyment, he’s now secured a football scholarship in the USA and has made first team appearances for Stranraer in League 1.

After being released by Kilmarnock, could you have envisioned being where you are now?

Not really. I was just playing to the best of my abilities at junior level at Maybole and I was pretty young to be playing at that level, just trying to enjoy my football. Eventually it’s worked out in that I was given a chance at Stranraer.

You signed for Stranraer in August of last year, what have they done for you as a club?

Stranraer have given me a platform as a footballer with the opportunity to train and play for the first team. All of the coaches have been excellent in helping me develop as a footballer, for which I’m very grateful.

You’ve made four appearances for the first team this season, how big has the step up been?

There is a definite jump in standard. The pace of the game is noticeably much higher, and naturally a mistake can play a massive part in a match.

It could be the difference between a team staying up or being relegated. But in saying that, as soon as you get your first touch in a match it turns into any other game of football.

How would you describe yourself as a player?

I’m a hard-working player. Normally I play as a number 10, just off the striker. A lot of my game is focused on covering ground in front of the midfield.

You’ve recently secured a football scholarship in America, how did that come about?

After being released by Kilmarnock, I’d began to look at different roots into football. I’d heard of boys going to America through scholarships, so I thought I would give it a go myself.

I was also concentrating on exams at the time whilst keeping in contact with the coaches in America.

I was told I’d been accepted around Christmas time to a school in Tennessee, so it was before I was playing in Stranraer’s first team.

You graduated from Grange Academy JD Performance School.  How much did the Performance School benefit you?

Grange Academy was excellent for me and really developed me as a player. I just worked as hard as I could and hoped the coach noticed I was giving it my best. Training everyday really helped improve me as a player.

It’s 100% the best thing I could have done throughout my education.

Why would you recommend the Performance School programme?

I’d always recommended the Performance Schools as it develops you in all aspects. You want to work harder in class because you’re able to play football later in the day. It naturally improves you technically. I came into the Performance School shy and lacking confidence but I left a more assured person.

The Performance Schools develop you as a player and as a person.

Now I want to continue to progress. I am aiming to be one of the best in the league I'll be playing in in America.