Behold, the young padawan of football's controversial dark side, Zander Hutton. Born in Scotland's chilly embrace on the last day of July, 2006, the lad turned 18 with the expectation of making a glorious impact on the pitch. His warrior-like spirit, guided by an unwavering focus, led him to play as a defender for Rangers - a position often overlooked by the glory-hunters.
As a right back, Hutton surely doesn't enjoy the same fame and adoration that the goal-scorers and show-ponies bask in up-front, but without him and his kind, no keeper would sleep easy, no lead would feel safe. It's a hard-core role that he's seemingly made his own, wearing the somewhat obscure number 63 proudly on his jersey.
So while Hutton may not hold the power to bend a ball like Beckham or the foot-based finesse of a Ronaldo, his role, dear readers, his role in the cold and often unforgiving game we love is no less important. Ironically, even while we love celebrating a hard-fought goal, there's a certain primal satisfaction in seeing a strikers' dreams thwarted by a skillful defender, and it's here that our young Hutton shines.
So, let's raise a glass to Zander Hutton - a doughty defender born to thrawt and thwart - may the wind always be at his, and his defence's, backs.
