Evan Ferguson sensed he was going places when he heard the bell ring while on the pitch, instead of sitting in the stands.
As a kid, the now 18-year-old was a regular at Ireland matches and enjoyed when the Irish fan in the South Stand raised a cheer by ringing his bell.
Last week, Ferguson heard it again - but this time it marked a personal occasion to savour.
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The Brighton striker made his senior Ireland debut in the home friendly defeat to Norway and then doubled his caps haul off the bench in the win over Malta days later.
Ferguson said today: “It was an unbelievable experience. Growing up everyone goes to the games or watches the game at the Aviva. To come and play at the Aviva was an unbelievable feeling for me and my family.
“(As a kid) I just remember parking about 20 minutes away and having to walk in, walking over that bridge.
“I was wearing the jersey in and everyone was chanting and that. Then, do you know the man with the bell? Just hearing that. But when you hear it when you’re playing it’s like ‘you’re actually doing something’.
“You’re just so focused on the game and in the moment. After, you’re looking around and seeing people chanting. There’s no other feeling like it.
“You saw it growing up for years and years. Then you’re like ‘I’m actually doing it’. You get taken aback.”
Had he scored in either game, ex-Bohemians ace Ferguson would have eclipsed Robbie Keane by becoming the youngest senior goalscorer for Ireland.
But he insists he wasn’t weighed down with expectation.
“It just went very quickly, that’s all I remember,” he said. “(Stephen Kenny) just said ‘right, you’re coming on’. The shin guards were on and the next minute or so I was on the pitch.
“I didn’t really have much time to think about it. I just had to get on there and try to do something.”
Ferguson, who has made his mark at Under-21 level, was named in Kenny’s squad proper, rather than being added as a late call-up.
“I got a call off Stephen the morning before it (was released), just letting me know I was going to be in it. I didn’t find out through the telly or anything. He gave me a ring.
“Everybody wants to be involved in it. You just have to see how your form is and try to keep pushing on.
“It’s only a week of camp so you have to put yourself about and try to make an impression on the gaffer.
Evan Ferguson was speaking at a 'Football For All, Futsal In The Yard' event at Scoil Chiaráin in Glasnevin.
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