Josh Falkingham loved being at Leeds United during the days when big Premiership matches and European ties topped the bill at Elland Road.
Signed by the Yorkshire club at the age of eight, he watched them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and marvelled at the skill of the likes of David Batty, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kewell and Alan Smith.
Falkingham (21) never quite got to sample the big stage himself before being released after 11 years at Leeds in 2010, so he has a hunger to show what he can offer when Arbroath host Rangers in arguably the glamour tie of the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at Gayfield on Sunday, with the match being broadcast by Sky.
”I grew up in the Rothwell area of Leeds where Alan Smith came from and he was a big hero for the club,” said Falkingham. ”He was someone I could look up to for inspiration.
”When I started to go through the ranks at Leeds people knew about me because I came from the same place as Alan. But there have been so many great players at Leeds and I wanted to be like Billy Bremner or David Batty.
”Those two were incredible footballers who played the game the way I like it to be played.
“I really looked up to Batty. He was a central midfielder who could play but also had that bit of nastiness about him. He would dig in to take control of the midfield and I like that in a player.
”The Rangers match is a chance for all of us to show what we can do.”
After leaving Elland Road Falkingham earned a short-term move to St Johnstone. Lichties boss Paul Sheerin then took him to Gayfield when he quit Perth to become player-boss at Arbroath.
And while Falkingham wishes he could have stepped on to the hallowed Leeds turf for real, last year’s SFL young player of the year could yet have a bright future.
”The one regret I have from my time there is that I didn’t get the chance to walk out in front of a big crowd and play,” he added.
Sheerin believes Falkingham can still earn himself a move back to the bigger stage.
”I think he can play at a higher level and can’t really understand why he is not there,” said the manager. ”If he continues to perform the way he is performing hopefully someone will take a chance on him and the Rangers game is a massive opportunity to showcase his talents.”