The call from Peterhead came at just the right time for Robbie Scullion.
Scullion, let go by Partick Thistle ahead of the summer, was ready to play for his former club St Peter’s as a trialist when he got a message from his agent saying Peterhead were interested in signing him.
Joining up with the Blue Toon put a positive spin on what had been a disappointing pre-season. Scullion had been training with Airdrieonians but was not able to win a deal, meaning he had to drop down the levels to keep his hand in.
When manager Jim McInally made it clear he wanted him at Balmoor, it was a no-brainer for the teenager to make the move north.
“It was the Friday night before the first game against Airdrieonians,” said Scullion. “I’d done pre-season with them and didn’t get anything out of it.
“I was training with St Peter’s, who I used to play with, and their coach said I was always welcome to come to training. They had a league game that Friday night and he asked if I wanted to play as a trialist, so I didn’t have to sign any paperwork.
“I did the warm-up and came back in to look at my phone – I had a missed call from my agent and he text me to ask if I was able to get up to Peterhead tomorrow.
“The gaffer gave me a phone and I briefly spoke to him. It was a quick turnaround but it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
“I know how good the club is and a lot of players have developed there. I was wanting to get back into football as quickly as I could at a good level.”
It has been a steep learning curve for the 18-year-old though, having never played at senior level before and being thrown in at the deep end with Peterhead short of players.
“It was my first time being round a first-team environment,” added Scullion. “The gaffer has really looked after me. He’s given me encouragement and the confidence to go out and play.
“The boys have been brand new with me. I didn’t really know what to expect but they’ve taken really good care of me.
“It’s been the best thing that’s happened – everything kind of fell into place after that. It was easy for me to say aye and go up to give it a go.”
McInally has had to revamp the Peterhead squad this summer, with 14 players departing and 15 arriving.
The Buchan side carried a young squad last season and will do the same this year, with seven of those new additions still teenagers.
“I already knew Cody McLeod from the PFA exit trials game,” said Scullion. “The first day I went up to Peterhead, I got on the bus with the boys and Cody was the first person I saw.
“I was talking to him and Ola (Adeyemo) and it settled me right in. The standard is really good and if you’re not cutting it at training, you will be told.
“It’s frustrating at times because no-one likes getting beat. I feel over the next few games we will get stronger and it won’t be as tough as it has been.
“It’s a fairly new team but I’ve been enjoying this environment.”