'Don't resent football' - Paton hopes his journey can inspire young players

BBC News

25-04-2025

Dundee United striker Ruari Paton hopes the way he was rekindled his career can inspire young players cut loose by clubs to keep chasing their dream.Irishman Paton, who arrived on loan from Port Vale in January, admits being part of United's European challenge is a far cry from where he was when he was released by Hibs as a 19-year-old.Speaking prior to Saturday's Premiership visit of Celtic, he said: "You are 19, your life is just starting, even now I am 24 I feel like a completely different person that I was then. But did I feel like the bottom of my world had gone? Absolutely."I would love if even one younger person watched my interviews and my story and understood that through a couple of years of really hard graft and performing at certain levels and just scaling bigger and bigger, they can look at my story and think your career is not over just because you were released by a professional club. It is far from over."I would reinforce that to every young person I meet. Don't be resentful to football, because football isn't the problem."Don't get resentful towards the game, enjoy it and play it while you can, immerse yourself in it every day because it doesn't owe you anything."But it is absolutely brilliant to play in and there is no reason why you can't go back up the way again, especially in Scotland."After his Easter Road exit, Paton rebuilt his career at East Kilbride, Stranraer, Queen of the South and Queen's Park before making the move to England.He has struggled for game time and has yet to score since he arrived at United but maintains he has "loved it".He said: "I knew fine well I was putting myself in a situation where I wasn't guaranteed to play every minute."It is not in my personality to be fearful or afraid of a jump or failing. I would be more than happy to come and fail, it doesn't bother me in the slightest, I have failed miles worse before."I have loved it. A lot of people fall out of love with football, they will come up here and tell you they love it, but they don't. A lot of footballers don't love football."I still do love it when I look around and think 'the stadium is full, it is amazing' you have to try to enjoy every moment as it comes."