PICTURE the scene; it’s half-time and Alloa Athletic are 1-0 down to a Championship rival on the opening day of the season. 

Peter Grant is livid and in no uncertain terms tells his players exactly what he expects from them in the second-half. 

Midway through the inquisition, a voice pops up to express its discontent at the gaffer’s plans. Not a strange thing in itself by any means and if the walls at the Recs could talk they’d fill this paper’s yearly run in a heartbeat. 

However, instead of Andy Graham or Scott Taggart – who you’d imagine would have both said their piece – the voice filling the golden room is that of Peter’s own son. 

READ MORE: Ray Grant tells of warm welcome as football returns in Alloa

Well, suddenly that could very well become the reality this season after the Alloa boss secured the signature of Ray Grant following his departure from League One Clyde. 

The family dynamic adds an extra layer of intrigue ahead of football’s long-awaited return in October, but both father and son are clear the move could only have happened if they put aside their shared DNA at the door. 

“I don’t want the boys to not want to say things,” Ray told Advertiser Sport. “It doesn’t matter how well you get on with the manager, there can be the frustrations. 

“I don’t want them to worry if they say something when I am there. At the end of the day, I am there for the boys and there to win and I will probably be saying the same things. 

“It doesn’t matter who the manager is. Football isn’t personal and everyone just wants to do the best for the team. 

“There’s no issue with this team and no one has batted an eyelid.

“No one cares. He’s the manager, I am the player, and I am treated the same as everyone else. 

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Alloa boss Peter Grant Alloa boss Peter Grant

“I’ll get criticised when I don’t do well and praised when I do well.” 

For Peter, Ray’s move to Clacks is completely out of merit, his player of the season performances at Clyde and hard graft through Norwich City’s youth team bearing fruit. 

“He loves being in the dressing room and he loves the patter you have with the players,” Peter said. “He didn’t want that to change.

“He was a bit concerned about that and obviously I can’t say how that’s going to be for him, but know he has spoken to big Andy and there are no issues.

“I know what dressing rooms are like; they can all be effing and blinding about the manager. That can’t change for him and he’ll probably be on of the ones saying it! 

“That’s the kind of character he is and that’s the most important thing.

“As a footballer, he suits what we are trying to do and he suits what we have. That’s the reason we signed him.”

Football certainly runs in the Grant blood – Peter Jnr plays for Queen’s Park – and it isn’t the first time father and son have crossed paths, the two facing off against one another when Ray played for Norwich and Peter Snr coached at Fulham. 

“Playing against him he is exactly what you expect,” Ray said. “When you are playing you don’t think about it and don’t worry that it’s your dad managing the other team.

“It was never like that and we both wanted to win. We both got frustrated when it didn’t go well.” 

It’s little wonder Ray shares his father’s determination to win. Peter himself was a bullish talent at the heart of Celtic’s midfield and to this day – as Paddy Connolly will agree – doesn’t take too kindly to things not going his way. 

READ MORE: Family affair in Alloa as Ray Grant joins Celtic legend Peter

However, it wasn’t through force two of his sons discovered their own love for the game and instead he was careful to toe the line whenever he caught a rare opportunity to see either play. 

“The good thing for me growing up is that I never really saw him or of Peter playing too much,” the 55-year-old said. “It was their mum Lorraine.

“I was away and working away from home. She was the one taking them to training and football.

“He was what you would call successful as a young player when you look at the kind of players he was playing with at Norwich. 

“He’s done really, really well. I never saw a lot of them and when I did go I was one of these fathers who hid away in the trees.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Peter Grant during his playing days with Scotland Peter Grant during his playing days with Scotland

“It’s someone else who was running the team. It’s great credit to their mum as she took them everywhere and in England that could be four or five hours one way. 

“You would leave at 6am and not get back to 8pm. That’s what it is in England.

“They loved football and loved going to the football. I was never one of those fathers who forced them into it.

“They’d watch 0-0s and as a coach you’d think it was a good game. When you are watching it with them, you are a bit subconscious.

“But, they have always loved the game and probably not through me as I was never there. 

“Maybe if I was a father moaning at them and annoyed them, they’d have not liked football. I know what fathers are like; you can moan the face off them.”

For Ray, he’s delighted to get his shot at Championship football, although knows the impact Norwich and ex-Alloa gaffer Danny Lennon – his boss at the Bully Wee – have had on his game will be invaluable. 

“I enjoyed my time at Norwich and it’s funny now to look back on it and think that it was ten years,” Ray, 23, said. 

“When you are there you want to break into the first team and I was lucky enough to make my debut in the FA Cup.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Danny Lennon, right with Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney, left his mark on Ray's game Danny Lennon, right with Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney, left his mark on Ray's game

“But I wanted to do that every week and, let’s be honest, that is difficult if you are at a team like Norwich unless you have a special talent. 

“Then I got my injury and hit a crossroads, but I was extremely fortunate I was able to get a scan and do my physiotherapy there.

“Danny Lennon hadn’t taken over that long and said he wanted me but had no budget. 

“I wasn’t interested in budget and wanted to get back playing.

“Danny Lennon managed me really well and told me it was up to me to stay in the team if I got in.

“I remember coming on in a game against Berwick and thinking it was too quick for me. It’s bizarre saying that because of who I had been playing with and against down south. 

“That’s what can be misunderstood up here. There are a lot of good players in League One and League Two and they might just not have had the opportunity.

“I had that at Clyde and have to be grateful for that. There was no feeling like first team football. When you are going to a training ground on a Tuesday afternoon, it’s not the same. But, it is brilliant to be involved in the under 23s and to be playing against top teams.” 

Now he’s got the move and the seal of approval from his old man, Ray is desperate to make his mark at Clacks and says the dressing room has already lived up to expectations. 

“As well as some very good players there are some very experienced players at Alloa,” the former Scotland youth internationalist said. “The Andy Grahams, your Alan Troutens have been around the Scottish game and have been very successful.

“Sometimes for a young boy it can be a bit daunting but the feedback I have had and even reading little bits last year is that it was always about how welcoming and helpful the experienced boys have been. 

“It’s a really good group and everyone just wants to do well for each other and 
fingers crossed the performances will show that.

“My dad spoke to me for a couple of weeks ago and knew with Flanny [Iain Flannigan] retiring it was a big blow to them. I was able to get to the Friday night games against Dundee United last season and they were brilliant in both those games.

READ MORE: Iain Flannigan retires: Alloa's 'JFK moment' as an infectious talent is taken away too soon

“Flanny was a big part of that because things went through him and I knew that was a position my dad was looking for. 

“He knew the reasons why I might not want to come and that if it wasn’t my dad he would have been trying to get me anyway.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Ray hopes he can replace Iain Flannigan at the heart of Alloa's midfield Ray hopes he can replace Iain Flannigan at the heart of Alloa's midfield

“Put it this way, if it wasn’t my dad, I would have signed two or three weeks ago but it’s just the things that go in and around about it.

“As much as people say it doesn’t matter, it’s normal to think about going to play with your dad. It is different.

“I knew it was the perfect fit for me because of the chance to play in the Championship and to play with a really good team.”

He added: “I know I need to prove myself in training to get into the team.

“There are a lot of good players and they demand a lot from you in training on and off the pitch.”