Dunfermline’s Dapo Mebude: From Rangers dream under Steven Gerrard to car crash scare in Belgium
Mebde was born and raised in London. At the age of 10, his family moved to Glasgow where his footballing talent was discovered early.
He grew up in Govan, began training with Rangers and became part of the Scottish Football Association’s performance group.
As a Liverpool fan whose childhood role model was England winger Raheem Sterling, when Anfield great Steven Gerrard strode through the door as Ibrox manager, He could hardly believe his luck.
“I’ve done well in all age groups,” Mebde said. “I was always going to play for a few years.
“In my second year full-time, I played in an under-20s game. I scored a hat-trick as a substitute.
“Steven Gerrard had just come in. He was watching the game and the next day I was training with the first team. It was surreal.”
Gerrard gave Mebde his first-team debut at Rangers.
However, it was always going to be difficult for the teenager to overtake the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe in the rankings.
After loaning to Queen of the South, he moved to Watford, then to Wimbledon, and finally to Belgium.
Mebde has made it his mission to rebuild his career since surviving the debris on the roadside.
Once again, his family played a role. In the summer, he trains with his brother Dire, a Scotland Under-21 striker who currently plays for Westerlo.
The wider football family will also help him get back on the pitch.
“I trained at Livingston for a while,” Maybud said. “My friend Stephen Kelly played there and we played together at Rangers. He knew about my situation.
“He said to the manager, ‘Do you want to come in and train?’ The manager, David Martindale, was very good to me and let me come in and stay fit.
“We actually played a friendly against Dunfermline and I played. One day I was at home and my agent texted me and said Dunfermline were talking to him and I should come in.
“I felt right at home. There’s a really nice group of people here.”
Maybud will be hoping to make his latest Pars appearance when BBC Scotland cameras head to East End Park on Friday to watch the visit of Scottish Championship leaders Falkirk.
Mebde added: “I hope the club sees the best in me because after what I’ve been through this year it might be difficult for a lot of people to take the risk again.”
“They obviously have confidence in me and I just want to show the fans, the club and the manager what playing for the club means to me.”
