Scott McDonald
Socceroo Scott McDonald, 24, moved to Glasgow, Scotland, to play for Celtic. He is now one of the club's top goal-scorers.
"The fans here are fanatical about the game. It's their life: they eat, drink and sleep football. It's pretty hard to walk down the street and not be noticed. Sometimes you'd prefer just to escape all that but you appreciate you're fortunate to be living this opportunity. It's a nice feeling when somebody comes and asks for your autograph.
"The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers (the other big Glasgow soccer team) is very strong and very passionate, and on match day when there's a local derby it can be quite a scene. Everyone in Glasgow supports one team or the other, and both clubs also have millions of diehard fans around the world. If you meet a Rangers supporter around Glasgow, it is usually all in good spirits. I've not had anyone do anything nasty to me. I try not to be worried to go out to the shops just because someone is going to come up and want to say something to you.
"I went to Don Bosco Catholic Primary School in Narre Warren, then Hampton Park Secondary College until the age of 16, when I left Australia. I left home after playing for the Joeys, Australia's under-17 team, at the World Youth Cup in New Zealand in 1999. I got scouted by English Premier League club Southampton, then in 2003 I was offered a try-out at a Scottish club, Motherwell. It's just outside Glasgow. I trained there for only three days before the manager said he wanted to sign me. I was there until March last year when Celtic made an offer for me.
"I wanted to play for Celtic so much. My whole family, going back generations, support them. I have pictures outside the stadium when I was a kid on holiday. Mum and Dad were both born in Scotland. My dad grew up in East Kilbride. All the relations here in Scotland are so proud of me. My granddad's brother says he can't go down to his corner shop without a dozen people stopping to talk about me and Celtic. It seems so strange to them – the family here can't believe someone can come from Australia and do what I've done back where Mum and Dad grew up.
"I live in Robroyston, a good area, close to the places I need to go and pretty quiet. (It's also famous as the place where Scottish hero William Wallace was handed over to English forces in 1305.) They call our home ground, Celtic Park, 'Paradise' because there's a cemetery next door where thousands of Celtic fans are buried. The stadium holds about 60,000 and on big nights the crowd is like having a 12th man on the pitch. The noise and atmosphere can be just unbelievable. When you go into the huddle, the crowd roars and the noise just blows you away.
"Training starts at 11am. Early in the week we have longer training sessions, but they get lighter as the week goes on. After training, I like to do a lot of recovery, things like ice baths and massages. We usually have two games every week, one mid-week, one on the weekend. Not every footballer enjoys every day of training, but for now I just love every day. I'm smiling, even when I'm training in the snow.
"My girlfriend's name is Claire. We've been together now for seven years. She's done well to still be putting up with me after all this time. I met her when I played at Southampton. She'd gone to school with my one of my teammates there and he introduced us. It helps that she's a Scot and her dad is a mad Celtic supporter – she goes to our games with him.
"My fondest memories of Melbourne are spending time with my family in the hot summers – having barbecues and playing soccer and cricket in the backyard with my brothers, Cameron and Lachlan. We were always very competitive with each other and still are to this day. I also miss some foods from back home, mainly the bad things for you like chicken Twisties. And obviously I miss my mum's cooking, though I've become a pretty good cook myself.
"As soon as June comes (the end of the season), I will try and get home and see the family in Melbourne. The last couple of years, I have tried to get the family to come to me. Melbourne in June isn't quite what you'd call flying in for some sunshine – it's great to get home and see old friends and family, but after the Scottish season there's also a need to recharge the batteries and get some sunshine. Claire and I really like Greece. Maybe it's because of all the Greek people in Melbourne, I don't know. My favourite spot is probably Crete, on the quieter side of the island. It's a great escape."
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