“David is going to the World Cup, David is going to the World Cup...”Ian and Sheila Wotherspoon repeat the words over and over again to make the most wonderful piece of news sink in.Their son David had not long been on the phone to reveal the latest chapter of his football success story and confirm that his ultimate boyhood dream was coming true.The 32-year-old St Johnstone midfielder, who grew up in Aberargie, went to Abernethy Primary School before moving to Bridge of Earn and then later attended Perth High School, has earned selection to the Canadian World Cup squad.Wotherspoon qualifies to play for Canada through mum Sheila, who was born in Winnipeg.“It is hard to put into words,” Sheila said. “I am so filled with pride for him and I did burst into tears when I spoke to him.“We have been waiting in anticipation to hear if he was going or not.
It was really great to get the good news.“I still have cousins over in Canada. They will be rooting for David and are so proud of him.“And my dad, especially, because he worked out in Canada when he was young.
He is really proud of what David has achieved.”Wotherspoon has been involved in the Canada set-up since 2018 and quickly impressed head coach John Herdman.
His road to the World Cup was not a straightforward one, though.A gutting cruciate knee injury last November threatened to scrap his dream completely.