Let me introduce you to this enigma of a footballer, Josh McPake. Born in the year that sent measured numbers spiralling into the noughties, specifically 31 August 2001, making him a woefully mature 23 years of age. Scots by birth, he primarily provides his services as a right winger for the esteemed St Johnstone. His lanky 6ft (1.83m) frame and 11st (70kg) heft render him intimidating enough to wear the number 24 jersey, which he does with aplomb, I might add.
Now let's talk about his contract shall we? It would appear that McPake is stuck with St Johnstone for another tormentingly long 1 year and 8 months, having his contract expiring on the fateful day of 31 May 2026. Tick tock.
Right, let's take a leisurely trip down memory lane, shall we? In the summer of July 2017, young McPake decided to join the Rangers in the Premiership as a trainee. A yearning for change, perhaps. But wait, there's more. In the dog days of August 2019, he was shuffled, like a pawn on a Draughts board, from the Rangers in the Premiership to Dundee - also in the Premiership, might I add. But apparently, dispersing your services across teams in the same league is quite the trend these days.
Fast forward to September 2020, our lad McPake decided a jaunt in the Championship was called for and promptly transferred to Greenock Morton - on loan, of course. Then, in January 2021, he found himself drawn to the south, the League Two in England, to Harrogate Town to be precise. Following the same vein, McPake then hopped onto Morecambe in July 2021, and Tranmere Rovers in January 2022. Was he on a mission to explore the entirety of the League Two? One can only wonder.
Before you can say 'Scottish football', he's back up north in July 2022, at Queen's Park in the Championship where he decorated his debut season with 27 appearances and 3 goals. Rejoice for such sterling achievement. Alas, his joyride couldn't last forever and he had to return from his sightseeing tour to Rangers in the Premiership in June 2023. Wait for it, he's off again in September 2023, but we know not where. Intriguing? Or simply forgettable. But fear not, we see him again in February 2024 at Stirling Albion in the League Two. We always knew he had a soft spot for the League Two ladder, didn't we?
Fast forward to the recent past, we find our lad at Perth-based St Johnstone in July 2024. During this ongoing season, McPake has graced the field four times for St Johnstone and twice in the League Cup 2024 - 2025. But who's counting, am I right?
