BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
JOSH PETERS reckons he enjoyed the perfect apprenticeship under Hibernian hit-men Jason Cummings and Anthony Stokes.
Now the talented teenager is determined to put those lessons into practice and help fire Forfar Athletic to the title.
Peters, 19, joined the Easter Road outfit from Strathspey Thistle in January after bagging 13 goals for the Highland League minnows in the first half of last season and attracting interest from Inverness, Ross County and Hamilton.
While his game-time in the capital was restricted to under-20s fixtures, he is adamant he came on leaps and bounds on the training field thanks to the array of attacking talent assembled by Alan Stubbs last term.
He said: “The move to Hibs was a bit of a shock to say the least. To get a transfer from Strathspey to a club of that size was not something I could have ever imagined and it was an incredible experience.
“I learned so much from training with some of the first-team players and watching the quality some of the players had there. It was a brilliant start for me in senior football and shows you what you need to aspire to.
“You had the likes of [Jason] Cummings and [Anthony] Stokes training alongside you and it was a bit surreal at times. They make everything look so effortless, the ability is unbelievable. I learned a lot from them during my time there.
“All the boys were really welcoming and constantly asking how you were getting on, especially with me as I was a bit of an outsider coming from the Highlands – so I’ll always appreciate that.”
Despite thriving in Leith, Peters left the club in the close season in search of senior football and has hit the ground running after joining Forfar, scoring three goals in his last two games.
After excelling in the rough and tumble of the Highland League, he is not fazed by the physicality of League 2 but concedes the standard has been a notable step up.
Nevertheless, he hopes to continue impressing in today’s visit to Berwick Rangers – a clash which pitches second against third in the division’s game of the day.
Peters continued: “The Highland League toughened me up. I’ve been playing against men since I was a young boy, but this has definitely been a step up. It is a big rise in standard.
“You need to respond to that challenge and I think I have done that and fitted in well at this level. Hopefully I can keep progressing and move through the leagues as a get older.
“Coming to Forfar has been ideal for me, the team plays attacking football, which is my strength, and playing alongside someone as experienced as Jim Lister has been terrific.
“You know you will get chances playing in this team and it is up to me to put them away – hopefully I can do that against Berwick.”
