Calum Waters has scored his greatest personal goal off the pitch.
The Kilmarnock defender achieved a first class honours degree from the Open University (OU) while playing full-time for the Scottish Premiership club.
The 26-year-old defender has graduated with a bachelor of science (honours) sport, fitness and coaching degree at the OU Glasgow degree ceremony.
Waters studied through a period when he made 20 appearances on the pitch as Kilmarnock won the Scottish Championship earlier this year.
Speaking to the Kilmarnock Standard he said: “It feels good, it was one of my goals off the park so I am glad to get it completed.
“Now it’s a case of figuring out what I want to do after football with the degree.
“When I was at Alloa I was part-time so I went to college, and it was a similar course so I wanted to continue that through university.
“I thought once I signed with Killie I’d better keep my studies up, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done to be honest.
“It gives you a focus away from football so you don’t get too bogged down if things aren’t going well on the pitch, you have something to take your mind off it.
Waters previously gained a HNC at New College Lanarkshire in Coaching and Developing Sport. Being able to transfer existing college credits towards his degree and study with the OU while on a full-time contract was a winning prospect.
He added: “When I was at Alloa it was always about getting back to being full-time, I’d just left Celtic and it was a wake-up call.
“So I had to future-proof myself, when I signed with Killie it was my goal to never go part-time again.
“It’s one of the best jobs you could have being a footballer, but it doesn’t last forever, that’s why I wanted to do this on the side.
“Some players don’t think about the future until it’s too late, I am still unsure what I want to do but at least I have that safety net."
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