For Cove Rangers and their captain Mitch Megginson, remembering where they came from is an important facet of life.
Given their startling progress on the field – they are chasing a third promotion in four years – it can be easy to forget they are less than three years removed from the Highland League.
Their Scottish Cup tie against Hibernian last week put that progress under the spotlight.
For all those who may know about Cove and their exploits, such as those in Aberdeen and in Leagues One and Two, they gave the whole country a chance to see what they were about.
“It’s not something that happens overnight – there’s a lot of hard work behind-the-scenes from players, staff etc, working hard to make sure we compete at the best level possible,” said Megginson.
“That comes from the top, from the chairman to the players and the backroom staff. There’s a lot of hard work gone into that and these things take time, for everything to gel.
“It’s probably happened a lot quicker than people expected, but we’re making steps in Cove’s history and keep adding to that – hopefully – season after season.
“Because you’ve done so well, you forget that a short time ago we were in the Highland League and competing there. We’ve now swapped the highs of Fort William for Ibrox and Easter Road, and I think that speaks volumes for where the club is at.”
Cove, along with Edinburgh City and Kelty Hearts, are strong adverts for the pyramid system.
All three have come up from the lower leagues via the play-offs. Cove won League Two in their first season and are eight points clear at the top of League One, while Edinburgh have been perennial promotion contenders in League Two.
Kelty, who beat Brechin City to earn a spot in League Two this season, are in control of the division just now and look set for consecutive promotions.
“It only benefits the Scottish game,” said Megginson. “You’ve got clubs that are looking to build good squads and make Scottish football exciting.
“You don’t have to look any further than the three teams that have done it already, the progress they’ve made.
“It looks more than likely Kelty are going to win that league in their first season, similar to ourselves, and will be a big challenge next season in League One.
“Whether there are more teams in the Lowland and Highland leagues that want to make that step and are ambitious – for me that’s what’s needed for the Scottish game.
“We all know it’s not an easy task in Scottish football in terms of funding, but if you’ve got somebody investing in a club and wanting to improve them, for me it’s a benefit and that’s been highlighted by the three teams who have managed to make the step up.”
Megginson comes up against one of his former clubs this Saturday, as Cove head south to face Dumbarton.
The Cove skipper spent two seasons with the Sons after his release from Aberdeen and credits that time as helping his transition to part-time football.
He added: “From living in Aberdeen and just knowing Aberdeen for all of my life, moving down to Glasgow was a big step.
“It’s something I needed to do for myself. It makes you a bit more independent and you realise there’s a lot more to life once you move out of your parents’ house.
“You grow up. I enjoyed the football there and was looked after; on the flip-side you had to get a job as well, so I was introduced to that side of life.
“Looking back, it was probably the best thing I did for me and for the football side of things.
“Ian Murray was the manager, Jack Ross was his assistant the first season then he left and Guillaume Beuzelin came in. Ian and Jack were just starting their career in management and I don’t think I could have asked for a better pair at that time.
“They were enthusiastic and got me playing some good football. We had a really good team and just missed out on the play-offs for the Premiership at the time.”