FALKIRK new boy Aaron Jarvis is determined to ensure he is never left on the shelf again after tasting life in the ‘real world’ working in a supermarket.
The 21-year-old is in line for his Bairns debut against Dundee United on Saturday after joining on loan from English League One leaders Luton Town on transfer deadline day.
The striker has overcome a groin injury and finally travelled north this week to check out life in Scottish football.
And – having been snatched in 2017 from the obscurity of playing for non-league Basingstoke Town and working part-time in Tesco – Jarvis is intent on making his Falkirk shift a successful one as he bids to bag a bright future at Luton.
He said: “Basingstoke is my home town and I came through the Academy there. I left school and progressed into the first-team and then got the move to Luton after that.
“Obviously, in terms of the leagues and the standard of the football it was a big step. But I felt as if I was ready for it.
“I’ve had a good year and a half learning at Luton. I’ve learned a lot and I’m a much more experienced player now and I’m just hoping to get a few games under my belt and progress from there.
“When I was at Basingstoke, I worked for Tesco part-time and I stay grounded.
“You have to make your money somehow, so that’s how I made mine, but I always had the dream and ambition to progress up to the professional leagues.
GRATEFUL
“I remind myself every day how grateful I am to have the opportunities to play football.
“Obviously I’ve been in the real world, as they say, outside of football and worked a normal job. That makes me more hungry for success.”
Whilst parent club Luton set the pace at the top of League One, Jarvis has joined a Falkirk team in the midst of a fierce relegation dogfight.
But the youngster insists he has no qualms about the challenge facing him as the Bairns, currently second bottom and just a point above Alloa, bid to hang on to their Championship status.
He added: “Luton have four or five of the best strikers in the league but they are good for me to learn from day-in, day-out. I have taken a lot from them and hopefully I can now move on and play some games.
“I’ll be looking to take the experience from the games and take that back down south.
“I like a good battle. When I was younger I played in a few relegation battles, so it’s a good experience and I’m looking forward to it.”
