“Takes it seriously”: Jason Cummings’ junior coach reveals the real ‘Cumdog’

Jason Cummings is the Socceroos’ resident Scottish larrikin. But according to those who’ve watched him grow up, there’s far more to him than meets the eye.

Jason Cummings might have only been in the Socceroos’ fold for a short amount of time, however it’s fair to say that he’d be up there with one of the fan favourites as the team prepares for its opening World Cup group match against France next Wednesday.

In addition to his outstanding performances for the Central Coast Mariners, part of the appeal of ‘Cumdog’ – or ‘Cumdingo’, as some have sought to christen him – is his personality. Cummings cuts the image of a loveable larrikin who well and truly enjoys himself both on and off the pitch.

For many, he’s a breath of fresh air in a world of media-trained footballers who are unwilling to say any more than “full credit to the boys”.

Indeed, in September Cummings endeared himself to Australian football fans even further when he lost his passport – later found in a Bondi McDonalds – just days before he was due to fly out with the national team for his debut against New Zealand.

And while football fans might think they know ‘Cumdog’, the laid-back, larger-than-life chap who loves a laugh and a good time, those who’ve watched Cummings grow up say there’s much more to the man than meets the eye.

“He’s a bit of a joker and that, but he was always quite quiet as a lad – he always took his football seriously,” says Thomas Smith, who coached Cummings as a junior during his time with local Edinburgh club Hutchison Vale.

“Because he likes being a bit of an entertainer, not just with football but just the way he is, I think that sometimes gets missed.”

A young Jason Cummings receiving an award while playing football for Hutchison Vale in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo: Supplied.

Smith, who first met Cummings as a skinny little five-year-old, says that it was clear from an early age that he was deeply passionate about the sport.

“If ever there was a story about Jason and his commitment to football, I remember when he was eight years old and I was putting up the goals for the kids,” he says.

“I was setting the pitches up at half past four, it was a six o’clock start, and it started snowing. And I mean snowing. There were no mobiles in those days.

“So about twenty to six, I’m putting the last of the goals away, the snow is well up to my ankles by this time, and here’s this wee figure walking across the park with his bag. He just wanted to confirm that it was off. His desire for it to be on was huge.

“It told me something about his love for the game. It was more than just a hobby for Jason, it was a love for the game. And I think that shows in his personality, his love for the game and love of just being there. And I think that’s so refreshing in this day and age when people are looking for an excuse to be miserable.”

It’s also clear that he wasn’t just passionate, but talented too.

“He was always a good leftie, he had a wonderful left foot. He was a goalscorer, but he was also very much a team player – he played the pass if it was a better option than the shot,” said Smith, who saw Cummings develop over seven years at Hutchison Vale.

“He just saw things so quick. He used to glide past players and was a great dribbler – he just had that knack with the football, that natural ability more than anything.”

Cummings during his second stint with Hutchison Vale in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo: Supplied.

After showing plenty of potential with Hutchison Vale, in 2007 a 12-year-old Cummings joined the academy of Scottish Premier League side Hearts. He spent five years with the club, during which time he suffered a nasty knee injury that threatened to ruin his career.

He was released in 2012 and went back to his junior club, ‘Hutchie’, where he once again starred for the club.

So impressed was Smith with what he saw that he personally took it upon himself to try and get the young striker a professional contract.

“I made the phone call for him to various clubs. He went to Huddersfield, but I think they wanted him at his hotel at half-nine at night, so that wasn’t for him,” he laughs.

After that, Smith called Scottish Premier League club Hibernian, who took a punt on the young striker.

“He was like a lucky mascot,” says Smith. “Hibs hadn’t won the Scottish Cup since 1902, and he played in the game in 2016 when they won it.”

Cummings enjoyed a successful four-year stint at Hibs, and in 2017 secured a move to Nottingham Forest in the English Championship.

His career was on the up, and later that year he made his full international debut for Scotland. (In fact, Cummings is only eligible to play for Australia because his Scottish appearances were in friendlies, and that he held Australian citizenship before they took place.)

Cummings scored a penalty on his debut for Australia in the 2-0 win over New Zealand in September. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

But from there, Cummings’ career hit some turbulence. After just six months, Forest loaned him out, admittedly to Scottish giants Rangers. He spent six months in Glasgow before he was loaned out again, this time to English third division side Peterborough United.

A couple more loan stints and a move to Shrewsbury Town meant that he’d been at six clubs in just over two years.

While Cummings’ showed flashes of his quality – most notably when he scored a double for Shrewsbury Town when they held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup in 2020 – opportunities were limited.

Indeed, there was a perception that he was too much of a party boy, someone who enjoyed the life of being a professional footballer far more than playing.

This came to a head in December last year when club side Dundee sent Cummings home from training, claiming he was “unfit” to train the day after he appeared at a live show put together by Scottish football podcasters Open Live dressed as the Joker.

The incident ultimately sealed his fate with the club, and one month later he made the switch to the Mariners.

“He’s had to take some blows with his football career in Britain,” says Smith. “And I don’t think it’s because of his performances. I think there’s a perception that he doesn’t take his football seriously.”

In comments printed in the Scottish press following his selection in the Australian World Cup squad, Cummings himself addressed the perception that he was more interested in partying than playing.

“A lot of people in Scotland had written me off. There was the claims I had a bad attitude and I was this and that! I was just the class clown and the joker.

“That was never the case. Football always comes first and at my last club I wasn’t playing and I wasn’t getting the opportunity I have got across here. Now I am playing, doing well and I am making my name as a footballer.”

Cummings as quickly become a Socceroos’ fan favourite (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP).

Cummings has been a revelation in the 10 months since he touched down on the Central Coast, with his performances making it impossible for Socceroos coach Graham Arnold not to take him to Qatar.

Looking from afar, Cummings’ junior coach Smith thinks it has something to do with the environment.

“He’s in the right country, with that sort of refreshing attitude towards life that he has, and I think he’s probably found the place he needs to be.”

Although Smith notes that Cummings wasn’t a particularly extroverted lad as a young man – that came later, as a teenager – he’s thrilled to see him strut his stuff again.

“Football’s become a bit serious, but you’ve got to remember that it’s in the entertainment industry, and he entertains at all times,” he said.

“I remember one time at Shrewsbury he scored and ran behind the goals, there was a photographer there. He got the boy’s camera and started taking photos of himself,” Smith laughs.

“It’s a good story about never letting people knock you down and being true to who you are and your character.

“People in Scotland always cry out, ‘Oh, we don’t have the same characters in the game anymore,’ but when one comes along they tend to want to smash them down. I love the way he was just bigger than everything and was just true to himself. It’s great to see what he’s done.”

And with Cummings set to play a key part for Australia in the World Cup, it seems as though the joker is having the last laugh.

“I think he also understands that it’s a short career, and that he’s going to bloody enjoy while it lasts,” says Smith. “He’s reached the pinnacle now – and there haven’t been many Scotsmen who’ve done that recently!”