Recent Peterborough United signing followed in the footsteps of some top Scottish players, some ordinary ones and a current international rugby union coach!

And we’re not taking about the benefits of joining Manchester United at the age of 16 either.

Hamilton had the good fortune, and the ability of course, to join the Hutchison Vale Boys Club in Edinburgh, an Academy with an incredible record of producing professional players.

The club has been described as ‘Scotland’s most fruitful Academy’, which given the size of some of their opponents, is some accolade.

Darren Fletcher, John Collins and Gary Caldwell are among the former Hutchison Vale players who went on to play international football for Scotland as did other alumni free-scoring striker Kenny Miller and top notch goalkeeper Alan McGregor.

Scores more have enjoyed lengthy professional careers in the pro game, among them two forwards, Jason Cummings and Danny Swanson, who went on to play for Posh. Cummings has won two full Scotland caps.

Cummings is now at League One rivals Shrewsbury Town, while Swanson plays for Scottish third tier club East Fife.

In the early days Hutchison Vale were likened in size to an English United Counties League side, but in 2018, under the name of Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, a senior side was adopted as the Scottish FA’s 90th member club.

And the club hasn’t just produced gifted footballers. Classy Scottish Rugby Union International, and current national coach, Gregor Townsend is another former player!