Ross Tierney perhaps has slightly more on his plate than the average 21-year-old.
The attacking midfielder is ending his first full year in ML1 shortly and it’s been as busy off the field as it has been on it. After a gutting FAI Cup final defeat with Bohemians, he packed his bags and headed over the water for his first crack at full-time football.
With him came his two children and girlfriend, so it was more than just adapting to life in claret and amber that Tierney had to get used to when arriving in Motherwell.
A happy home equals a happy life according to the midfielder, and he’s just glad that his young family are now settled in the area as Christmas time approaches.
“I was only looking back at some memories the other day,” he explained.
“It was the 28th of November last year we played in the cup final, so it brought back a few memories that I had coming over here 12 months ago.
It’s been enjoyable since then. It’s weird as, not that I feel new around the place, maybe with the fans and stuff I still feel new as I haven’t played as much as I would like to.
“I came over and obviously it was difficult with two kids and my girlfriend, but on the flipside, I am never lonely here. You have someone like Robbie Mahon who’s come in from Ireland.
“Not that he’s struggled or anything and not that he is homesick, but he’d perhaps get a bit lonelier than me because I can come home if I have a bad day and put a smile on my face just by looking at my kids.
“So it’s pros and cons. It can be difficult but I’d say it’s more difficult for my girlfriend than me but she’s settled in and made friends. My little lad has started nursery so he is all settled. It’s all good on the family perspective, I just hope things can get better on the pitch.
“I had my first one when I was 18 so I had to mature quite young. I’ve always had a mature head on me compared to other lads my age. I was young so it was difficult but I have a lot of nieces and nephews, so it took a little bit of the limelight off me!
“When I am outside the house I am a bit more giddy as when I’m in the house, I have to be a bit more mature in front of the kids and stuff. It had its pros and cons coming over here with two kids and a girlfriend but we’re happy.”
A busy festive period awaits Tierney and his team-mates as they play three times between 17 December and 2 January, and it’s perhaps a hidden sacrifice that some don’t get to see from their heroes.
It’ll be the first time the Republic of Ireland youth international has been away from home over the holidays, and with just his mum and dad at home now, it’s best for him not to dwell on that as big games approach.
But there’s an understanding within the family though that long-term, it will pay dividends for them if he continues to put in the hard work that earned him a three-and-a-half-year contract at Fir Park last season.
“This is my first Christmas away from home and it hasn’t really kicked in yet,” Tierney explained.
“I am putting that to the back of my head so I don’t get too upset but I think my mum and dad would be more upset than I’d be.
“It’s missing out on their grandkids and their kid. I am the youngest sibling and I was the last one to leave home. Now it’s just my mum and dad left in the house on Christmas day, which will be a bit upsetting for me but they fully understand.
“They want me to do the best I can for my football career and hopefully I am able to repay them for all the things that they have done for me, throughout my life.
“People really don’t see the sacrifices we make and we might get a bit of abuse for all the money the top earners get. But they don’t see the sacrifices even guys at the World Cup are making, so it’s not an easy role in football.
“There are so many highs and lows and there’s so many games this season around Christmas. Our game has been moved to the 23rd from the 24th which is an added bonus.”
In the meantime, there’s been plenty of preparation work done to get Steven Hammell’s side ready for the next phase of the season, which Tierney hopes to be more involved with.
He’d aimed to have featured more than he has, but goals against the likes of Celtic and Rangers show him he’s more than capable of mixing it when given the chance. Even if that means incurring some stern looks from one parent.
“My dad wasn’t happy with that one as he said it was lucky that it was 2-1 to Celtic, as I wasn’t getting back to the house!,” Tierney jokes.
“I think my mum was happier than my dad.
“I haven’t scored as much as I would like but I also haven’t been on the pitch as much as I would like. I’ve scored against Celtic and Rangers and not many people can say that.
“I can’t celebrate too much as we haven’t got the results we liked in those matches. I know I can score but it’s just getting confidence.”
Like the rest of his peers, the playmaker has been getting used to a new style of play under Hammell, which is proving a culture shift from what they were used to under previous boss Graham Alexander.
His initial briefing on his role at Motherwell took on a different look than the one he was initially sold but Tierney says he has been enjoying life all the same in North Lanarkshire.
A friendly with Premier League big hitters Tottenham Hotspur helped them get warmed up for a run of games that should have included home ties with St Mirren and Kilmarnock, on top of tough trips to Rangers and Livingston.
Injuries and a tricky run of matches have taken their toll at points but the goal from last season remains the same for the number 26. He wants to build on his 30 appearances in claret and amber to date, on top of helping the club for a push towards top-six placement and a crack at European football.
“I am looking forward to getting back into the run of games,” the former Bohs man added.
“The gaffer didn’t have much time at the start of the season and we don’t have a big squad, but it’s the hand we were dealt.
“The break came at a good time and we had a lot of injuries and away games. Hopefully we can take it game by game and the manager is trying to play a different way to the old gaffer, so it is going to take time.
“Hopefully after January I can get a good run of games now and the family have settled in now so that is all good. I knew I had a long-term contract but I wanted to hit the ground running here as soon as possible.
“I sort of half did that, but not as much as I would have liked to. I knew I was a few steps behind the lads in terms of full-time football and all of that. I am still working towards that but I think I am catching up on a few of the lads now.
“I knew under the last manager I wasn’t going to play much in terms of a lot of game time, as I came in late in the season so I had to get used to being full-time. This year obviously, it didn’t start well for us and we haven’t had a great run of results.
“In fairness when I spoke to the old gaffer initially, the things he had planned for me were a bit different to when I came in to be honest. Every manager that wants to sign you gives you everything under the sun but then maybe when you come in, it’s a bit different.
“But that was my first test of coming into full-time football, and I am really enjoying my time here at Motherwell. Hopefully we can get European football again.”
