Stuart Dallas was a fresh-faced 19-year-old when Stephen Baxter brought him to Crusaders from Coagh United.
Baxter could see something special in the winger when he faced off against the Crues in an Irish Cup tie back in 2010.
A week later Dallas arrived at Seaview and never looked back.
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Some 67 games and 24 goals later the Cookstown lad was on the move again.
This time he was off to full-time football as Brentford came calling for him.
Crusaders though will always hold a special place in Dallas' heart, who is now an established Northern Ireland international and Premier League player with Leeds United.
He still keeps a close eye on events in the Irish League and was delighted to see his old boss at Seaview is now the longest-serving manager in the world.
"He's been through it all there, from the hard times he has brought them right up to be one of the best sides and one of the top clubs in the Irish League," said Dallas.
"It's great to see that he is still there doing it.
"He takes the criticism when it comes his way and when the rewards come he heaps it all on the players.
"It's great that he's still in the game and still at Crusaders.
"I wish him continued success.
"I've kept a close eye on the league since I left.
"Obviously I still look for Crusaders to do well.
"I think they can go under the radar a bit this year because of the likes of Larne, Cliftonville and Glentoran, who have started really well.
"Linfield are going through a bit of a sticky patch with the European result not having helped them, but the Crues are plugging away nicely.
"It's great to see the league going from strength to strength.
"The league needs a good Glentoran, and they are looking like they will be hard to beat.
"I watched them against Linfield a few weeks ago and I thought they were brilliant.
"And again against Larne on Friday night they played very well again.
"They are building momentum, and when a club like that does that they will be hard to stop.
"I'm just hoping Crusaders can plug away nicely and still be there when it comes to the business end of the season."
Dallas feels the more full-time clubs there are in the league the more it will benefit the players and the senior international set-up.
"I think clubs going full-time will benefit everyone moving forward," he said.
"I look at Conor McMenamin coming into the Northern Ireland set-up, so going full-time can benefit the senior international side.
"Conor was excellent against Larne, scoring two and setting up the other two.
"Hopefully more clubs can start to go down that route and we can start to bring more players through.
"It's great to see so many young players coming through the Irish league before moving across the water.
"I think it comes from the set-up here now along with the likes of the JD Academy.
"The structure is better now than it was when I came through.
"When I was coming through it was just my club level, so it's good to see that platform is now in place to benefit players and have them ready so when they do make the jump across they're ready for the full-time environment."
The 31-year-old is currently battling back from a femoral fracture he suffered against Manchester City at the end of April.
Dallas admitted it was tough not being able to help Leeds United in their relegation battle.
He had to watch on from the stands as Leeds secure their safety in the final minutes of last game of the season as they secured a much-needed win at Brentford.
"I was a bag of nerves, I was there on crutches, my leg in a brace and I probably wasn't on the best terms with the Brentford fans as I used to play there," said Dallas.
"The boys were brilliant that day and the feeling after the game was worth it all.
"I was delighted we stayed up, not just for myself and my teammates, but for the fans and the club itself.
"To have been relegated would have been a disaster for the club.
"I don't like watching games, I'm a bag of nerves when I'm watching to be honest.
"So it doesn't help when you're in a relegation scrap and it goes right to the final day, and the last five minutes or so of that game.
"It was frustrating for it to happen at such an important stage of the season given that I had played quite a lot and probably would have played in the run-in.
"I'm not saying I would have changed anything, but it was just difficult not to be an option to help, and to see the team suffering.
"But I'm delighted we stayed up and it gave me a boost as well going into the summer.
"We came back and started really well, it's on a bit of a downer now but I'm pretty certain results will turn for us."
Dallas is hoping he will be back in the not too distant future and be able to play his part for club and country.
"I'm on the road to recovery, slowly but surely," he said.
"It hasn't been too bad but I suppose six months is still six months.
"I'm not sure exactly how long I have to go, but I've still got a bit to go.
"I'm doing well though and everything is positive.
"All my updates and everything I've gone through so far have been really positive...I think I'll be back bigger and stronger than ever."
Stuart Dallas was speaking as McDonald’s and the Irish Football Association launched the new McDonald’s Fun Football programme in Northern Ireland.
The launch of the new programme was celebrated at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park with McDonald’s Fun Football ambassadors hosting some of the many children set to enjoy Fun Football over the next four years.
Dallas and Northern Ireland senior women’s captain Marissa Callaghan were amongst the ambassadors that joined over 100 boys and girls as they participated in the special Fun Football session.
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