There have been many studies done over the years, mainly by academics with too much time on their hands, as to what makes a good sportsperson. They have tried to gain an understanding of the mind of an elite athlete. Some studies have been specific to football, including a recent one that suggested that strikers with low IQs were better because they did not think too much about what they were doing, it was more instinct. On that basis, naming no names, we should have had more than a few golden boots here over the years.

There has also always been an argument that sportsmen and women from working class backgrounds are more likely to succeed as they have more hunger and desire. But maybe it’s more simple than that in some cases. Maybe the apple just doesn’t fall far from the tree?

Recently, Scotland U21 coach Scot Gemmill spoke about Lewis Ferguson and the influence of having a footballing father, something that he is well qualified to talk about. As well as scoring Scotland’s most famous goal, Archie Gemmill starred for a number of clubs in the ‘70s, winning league titles at Derby and Nottingham Forest

“I think Lewis’ family background gives him a real advantage in terms of that mentality and the right advice. I was very lucky to have a famous father, too, so I can really be confident that Lewis will have had a solid upbringing in terms of football and has the correct attitude. I think you’ve starting to see that already.

“If I sit and think about it now, there’s no doubt how valuable it is. When you’re part of it, it feels completely normal. But only now can I look back and see it through someone else’s eyes. That immersion in it, that’s where the real fabric and the real heart of it is.

“You just live and breathe football in a house, in a family where – and it probably sounds crazy to some people – football comes first. To be brought up in a household where that is the case really does affect the person you are, so I’m sure it gives him an unbelievable advantage. He’s already starting to show how important that can be.”

Lewis spoke about the influence of his dad recently in a Red Matchday interview. That Lewis is such an outstanding player already should come as no surprise given that dad Derek was some player in his own right. Although he started his career at Rangers, it was at Hearts in the early ‘90s where he played some of his best football. His two Scotland caps don’t do justice to the talent the creative midfielder had.

“He has been a massive influence on my career, by far the biggest influence and still is. From the age of six, he took me to games and has always told me how to get better and how to improve.

“I can’t really remember ever seeing him play. I did go and watch him at Accies and I vaguely remember being in the changing room, but I can’t remember watching him in a game as I was too young. I have watched him on YouTube!

“I think he is quite hard on me but it is only for the best. He tells it as it is. If I have a bad game, he will let me know! When I play well, he praises me, but will find little bits that I need to improve on. He is always at me with wee things, small details about how I can be a better player.

“It does help a lot having someone you can go to for advice. I haven’t really been in a position yet where I have been really down, luckily, my career has been on an upward curve. I have never had that side of it, but I still go and ask questions and he always has an answer.

“When I was younger, he used to give me extra coaching. I used to hate it at the time! When I got in from primary school, he would take me to the local park and would get out the markers and the ladders for me to do all the quick feet stuff, little drills and technical stuff. And some runs! I used to get in from school and think ‘Oh no!’ but I always went and did it. I’m glad I did now! Then in secondary school, every morning before school, I would go to the gym with him and do a bit in there. He always had me training.

“Even now I’m in Aberdeen, he still keeps working on me. I am in a flat myself up here so when I get home, I always go for a sleep then have some dinner. Then, if there is a football game on, I will watch it. Dad will then phone me and tell me which players I need to be watching! ‘Make sure you are watching this player and watching what he does’. I then have to sit and watch the game and study the player he’s highlighted!”

Of course there is one of his team mates whose dad played for Aberdeen. Doug Considine joined Aberdeen from Highland League club Huntly in 1978 and spent three seasons at Pittodrie, where he was part of the team which won the Scottish Premier Division in 1980, playing 15 times in the league that season.

Perhaps having a father who had already been a pro helped Andrew understand from an early age that, if he was going to get over all the hurdles in his way, he was going to have dedicate himself to the game above all things.

Speaking in Red Matchday a few years back, Andy, who made his 450th appearance for the Dons in the League Cup final, spoke about the role of Doug in helping his impressive career.

“My dad was a huge influence on my career. I remember watching him play for Banchory St. Ternan. I have seen a few tapes of him playing for Aberdeen. Everyone I have spoken to said was a good player with a fantastic left foot.

“As boys, he would have me and my brother out playing in the back garden when we were very little. He would play a lot of football, we watched him play a lot of football. Although he was only at Pittodrie for two and a bit years, he was very successful – he won a league title medal. Seeing how successful he was, even in just those two years, it really spurs me on. You want to experience the great moments he did. Winning the League Cup was very special but maybe one day, we can emulate what he did in 1980.

“I would not be sitting here today without my dad’s help. He is the first person I speak to after a game and he will tell me exactly what he thinks, he will not shy away from anything, and I value his opinion massively.”

And there are a number of others getting similar parental guidance in the Dons’ first team. Scott McKenna’s father Ian played three seasons at Forfar at the start of the 1990s and his defensive partner Michael Devlin had a father who played at a junior level and was and still is a huge influence.

Mikey recently commented, “My dad Alec is my biggest critic. I used to drive to and from games and if I played bad, I’d dread the post-match analysis I’d get in the car! Coming up here with Hamilton, we’d get a few hidings and I’d actually think about getting on the bus back, rather than driving.

“But when I think I’ve done alright, he’ll have a few notes. I’m very fortunate I have a grounded family behind me. I know I can rely on my dad to be honest with me and not sugar-coat things. Don’t get me wrong, the manager will tell me if I’ve not played well, but it’s nice to know I can go home and have a chat with my dad.

“Without him, and the commitment he and my family had to make to support my football, I would not be here today.”
Meanwhile another defender, Mark Reynolds, takes things a stage further. His father Brian is a former football player and coach who has also worked at Motherwell as well as at Queen’s Park, where his son joined in training sessions at Hampden Park as a child.

“A lot of the boys in the changing room, their dads played at a decent level. My dad played for Queen’s Park, and was their captain, but did his cartilage in the right leg. Back then, they just removed it, they never tried to repair it, so he retired early from playing but stayed in the game.

“After studying to be a PE teacher, he then went back and coached Queen’s once he had stopped playing, with Eddie Hunter as his assistant. They would train twice a week and then had the game on a Saturday. I was the youngest of three brothers. They were doing their homework and studying for exams, but I was still young enough that I could go with him to training every week.

“It was a great environment for me to be in. Willie Neil was the kitman, he was also the Scotland kitman when I was away with Scotland. I used to train at Lesser Hampden and do the warm-up with the Queen’s Park boys. I would then drag a bag of balls and go away and hit free-kicks and penalties before going over to Hampden and running about the stands!

“I grew up with football. As well as my dad coaching, my brothers played at a decent level. I was always around football and joining in, trying to blag a game somewhere.

“My dad then started working with Hibs and I joined one of their satellite schools. Hibs had a school in Hamilton like Aberdeen did back then. We had a really strong team. Jamie McCluskey and Stephen Fletcher both went to Hibs and had good careers. Jamie became one of the youngest players to make their debuts in the SPL, and is currently at Stranraer. Stephen of course has just managed to force his way back into the Scotland squad. Charlie Grant went to Celtic and was one of their brightest prospects until he got injured. Brian Hodge went to Rangers and then Blackburn. Rocco Quinn had a good career after leaving Celtic.

“When they changed the youth setup and the school closed, we had the chance to go through and train in Edinburgh, but Motherwell then decided to take over the team. I went as a player and my dad went as a coach. He coached me from when I was with Hibs at 9 or 10 years of age, and coached me all the way up to 16, when I then went in full-time at Fir Park.

“I know a lot of dads have a big influence, but he was actually my coach. It was different for me having that relationship. He always wanted to play football the right way and wanted things done right and always made sure I was focussed on giving it my best shot. Regardless of being my dad or not, he is one of the best coaches I have worked under.

“After a game, he would never be over critical. In the car we would just have a discussion and he would ask why did you do that or why did you not do this. He was always there and even now we still have that discussion after a game. The worst thing I ever did was get him a Red TV account! He watches everything.

“He also used to do the match analysis for Motherwell – so he would go and watch the opposition and analyse their strengths and weaknesses and then put a report to the manager, so he was well qualified to analyse my performances. It could be quite full on but he also understands something that maybe others don’t, that during a game a coach or manger can be telling you to do certain things as part of a game plan and can be asking you to do things you have worked on in training all week. Things that might not be so obvious to others.

“So he is my biggest fan and my harshest critic, but that will be the same for most of the boys in the dressing room”.