I felt like quitting football after being sent to prison, says new SPFL star

ANDRE RAYMOND has revealed how PRISON paved the way for his move to Perth.

St Johnstone’s new left-back made an eye-catching debut in the cup win over Morton.

Raymond signed for Craig Levein’s side last week from minnows Vilar de Perdizes, who play in the third tier of the Portuguese pyramid.

The 23-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international has now opened up on how he was due to join top-flight Braga after a successful trial – but ended up being jailed then deported because of immigration laws.

Raymond revealed: “I was at university in America studying physiotherapy and did one semester, but I was at home for the holidays and my friend was going with an Academy team to Spain.

“I was dropping him off at the airport and the coach of his team asked me what I was doing, why was I not playing football and going with them?

“My parents wanted me to go back to school but he wanted me to go with them.

“He spoke to my dad about it, but my mum was saying ‘no way, you have to go back to school’.

“But in the end he managed to persuade them and a few days later I joined them in Spain to play a tournament.

“After that we went to Portugal and I ended up with Braga wanting to sign me but then some stuff happened – I got arrested!

“I’d ended up staying over there for four months instead of three and that’s not allowed.

“I’d gone back home to get my documents and then back to Portugal for pre-season with Braga, but they didn’t let me in and threw me in jail.

“I was in there for two days, it was a horrible experience.

“I was allowed a 15 minute phone call and was locked in a cell.

“I know it was only two days but that was enough, it was a new experience that’s for sure.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to go through it, it’s horrible.

“They sent me back to Trinidad and I had to spend three months out of Europe before I could go back.

“But because of the length of time it was, Braga had moved on and signed another left back so that left me without a club.

“I felt like giving up football again, to be honest, but I got the chance to sign for Vilar De Perdizes so I decided to do that.

“My mum wanted me to go back to school again but my dad said I should push on and keep going.

“She still wants me to study though and is telling me to do it part-time, but I don’t think so at the moment!”

Raymond added an attacking edge to the Saints side along with right-back David Keltjens, with Benji Kimpioka grabbing a first half double against toothless Ton.

Having two natural full-backs made Levein’s men look far more balanced than they did last season.

Raymond was recommended to Saints by former player Dan Phillips and revealed the move had been in the pipeline since March so spent the final weeks of last season supporting their bid to avoid relegation from afar.

He said: “The manager asked him if there were any good players for the national team so Dan told him about me.

“I didn’t know about it or anything, but then in March I got a phone call saying he had watched me and was interested.

“He’d done some research and liked what he saw, so things started moving then.

“I made my mind up straight away I wanted to join St Johnstone, the Scottish league is a top league.

“I spent the last few months of the season watching the team play, looking at the players, the style of play and the atmosphere in the stadium.

“All the time I was speaking to the manager and hoping they would stay in the Premiership.

“I watched the Motherwell game on the final day on my computer, it was a very tense afternoon but I was very happy when the team won.”

Phillips departed Saints over the summer but assured Raymond he’d be a good fit for the club and this country.

He said: “I wanted Dan to stay but he has goals and aspirations of his own.

“We still speak a lot, he told me to come here because it’s a good club and I would fit in here.

“He told me that my style of play would match up with Scottish football and I’m feeling that too.

“I like to defend but I also like to get forward, that is what the coach said he liked about me.

“I try to be tenacious, I think that is good for this league.

“I think I will build and grow as a person here also.”

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