A FORMER plumber with East Lothian Council is now helping the stars of Scottish football develop their game off the field

John Johnstone quit has job as a plumber with the council to become a personal trainer but turned his back on that career two years ago to set up Football Mindset.

Now the 29-year-old from Macmerry works with the likes of Hearts defender John Souttar, Motherwell star Chris Cadden and Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty on the mental side of their games.

He told the Courier how the drastic change in career came about: “When I was a PT people used to come to me and ask for a diet plan or a training plan.

“I’d say ‘have you had one of these before?’ and they’d tell me they’d had seven or eight. I thought then ‘what makes mine any different?’ and realised that maybe it’s not the plan, it’s the people who’ve got a problem between their ears. I then went to Thailand on a course and it’s all gone from there.”

John, a former Ross High School pupil, initially worked with youth football clubs across the county while trying to make a breakthrough to top-level players. He said: “I sent messages, filled out contact forms and heard nothing until this time last year, when John [Souttar] got in touch.

“I think there is a bit of a stigma because it’s psychology and people think you’ve got to have a ‘problem’ but it’s not about that.

“I focus on three things: mindset, the player as a person and their performance. I believe that a better person is a better player so what they do off the pitch is massively important.”

And he explained how he worked with players on an individual basis, saying: “I get to know the players.

“Someone could be struggling with self-confidence, or we all know what social media is like – that’s where I come in to help them.”

John, a former Ormiston player who hung up his boots to focus on his business, is now hoping he can reach the top of the game.

“I want to be the best and I want my clients to be the best as well,” he said. “I don’t get as excited about the players’ achievements as maybe I should because I’m always looking towards the next [target].”