Shetland teenager George Robesten proud to be flying flag for the island in Scottish Premiership with Ross County and Highland League with Nairn
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Nairn County loanee George Robesten is proud to be flying the flag for Shetland as he looks to forge a career in professional football.
The 17-year-old, temporarily at Station Park from parent club Ross County, has been a regular name on the Wee County's teamsheet and scored his first goal against Wick Academy a couple of weeks ago.
Having plotted an unusual path into senior football after picking up the game relatively late, Robesten is well aware that he is showing youngsters in the islands that it is possible to earn an opportunity to make sport a full-time job.
Rather than feel pressured by that spotlight, though, he is relishing the chance to represent Shetland on the mainland by making his mark on the football pitch – whether that be with Nairn or the Staggies.
"It's quite different to what other people have done," Robesten explained.
"I played rugby in England, and then started football in Shetland when I was 12 or 13.
"I quite a late starter in football. I didn't come up through an academy or anything – Ross County were just up doing a camp, and they liked what they saw.
"They came and watched one of my games for TSB (Trondra, Scalloway and Burra) in Shetland, which is nowhere near the level of here, but Ross County liked what they saw and asked me to come down.
"I did that every few weeks for the under-18s, then through that I got offered a first team contract, and I moved down here.
"A lot of the time I think to myself that I want to set a good example.
"I've heard a lot of stories of people in Shetland looking out for what I'm doing. I'm still young, I'm only 17, but they can see there's a pathway down south and you can make your way without being stuck in Shetland."
Since Robesten went full time in football, his family have returned south of the border to Southampton.
Again though, while it can be a big ask to ask a 17-year-old to thrive at the opposite end of the country, he has focused on adjusting to the tactical and physical demands of playing in the Highland League for Nairn.
The move came about after Robesten impressed for Ross County at Nairn in a pre-season friendly, and the youngster is doing his best to soak up all the advice and experience he can get.
"That gave me a bit of confidence going in, knowing they had liked what they saw and I would be given a fair chance," he reasoned.
"To be fair, I didn't know much about Nairn – I did a few Google searches when I found out I'd be going there – but it has really helped me compared to being in the academy.
"I think I've been given a very fair chance by Steven (Mackay), and I think I've done well so far so hopefully I can keep that going.
"Being around players like Ross Tokely – who has been at Caley and had a really good career – and learning off of them has really helped.
"I've not had the goalscoring form to start the season, but getting that first goal (against Wick) will hopefully send me on a good run.
"Hopefully it can get the wheels rolling and I can keep going now."
As is standard practice when players go on loan to part-time teams from full-time clubs, Robesten still trains in Dingwall during the week while linking up with Nairn for sessions and matches.
That means Malky Mackay is also keeping a close eye on his development – and he will have been impressed with Robesten's work rate in the Highland League so far.
"Being in and around Ross County, naturally mentally you go into their way of playing," Robesten added.
"In my mind, defence always comes first before attack. You have to be solid at the back.
"If I'm not back there doing my role and they score, that's on me, so getting back there to help is a big part of my game I'd say.
"The gaffer is really good with all of us young boys.
"He watches clips of what we do and gets feedback from our club of how we're doing, and in training he might pull us aside to have a chat and give us a few pointers.
"He always asks us how we think we're doing, so he's really good with that.
"The gaffer is amazing – he's probably one of the best managers you can have as your first manager.
"The way he deals with boys around the squad is amazing, so I'm very happy to be working with him."
