Electronic bagpipes strike up a Caledonian anthem as the shot moves to a forest by the side of an expanse of water. Seconds later the Loch Ness monster – Nessie herself – pokes a slightly unconvincing head and elongated neck into the open air.
A hand reaches down and plucks the beast from the murky depths. In a sleeveless Bologna t-shirt, nestling the monster under his right arm, Aaron Hickey utters the immortal line, “Believe me, I’m real.” More convincing as a footballer than he is as an actor, Hickey’ benvenuto to supporters of Bologna was part of a very modern football trend.
Where new signings were once unveiled on a pitch, raising a scarf over their head with a rictus grin painted on, the digital age demands more and more innovative ways to titillate supporters during the frenzy of a transfer window.
The playful montage of September 2020 confirmed Bologna’s first-ever Scottish signing. A £1.7million capture from Hearts, Hickey’s move proved an ice breaker – a gamechanger for both Scottish players and the national football team.
Here, Nutmeg speaks to the figures at the heart of the deal to tell the story of the transfer which prised open the doors to Serie A for the likes of Lewis Ferguson, Josh Doig, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Kieron Bowie.
This is a preview of Stephen McGowan’s full article, published in Issue 40 of Nutmeg.
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