David Wotherspoon: No new contract but forever a role model to Perthshire kids dreaming of playing for St Johnstone

There is a great picture of David Wotherspoon. It surfaces from time-to-time.

Face painted, proudly kitted out in St Johnstone’s 1996/97 home kit (the one with Famous Grouse splashed across the front) and sitting back in a huge wooden chair, here was a smiling kid from Perthshire whose dreams mirrored hundreds if not thousands of others his age.

Whether kicking a ball around Aberargie, at Abernethy Primary School, Abernethy Cubs or through the streets of Bridge of Earn, the end goal was to play for St Johnstone. It’s a pipe dream for most.

He would proudly perch down from the stands at McDiarmid Park and watch his favourites go for glory, cheering the ball into the net against teams from near and far. The Monaco 3-3 game would receive particular attention.

Just outside the stadium across from the Main Stand on the astroturf - on that sand surface which would burn knees forever - he would impress in the Saturday morning coaching hosted by community stalwart Atholl Henderson.

Wotherspoon, many years on, can reflect on making more than 350 appearances for the club, he can reflect on playing a key role in winning three pieces of major silverware and can reflect on representing them multiple times on the European stage.

This week, Wotherspoon, who was first signed for Saints in the summer of 2013 by Tommy Wright, was not offered a new contract for the 2023/24 campaign. That will bring his decade of success to a sad and emotional close.

Yet perhaps even more important than his on-the-field footballing achievements has been Wotherspoon's position as a role model to others off it. He is an example of just what can be achieved.

He never shirked away from attending community events whether down the local cubs or more recently up