Sean McBride joined the youth ranks in 1985 before becoming part of the club's ground staff in the summer of 1988.

He progressed from the youth team to the reserves and crossing paths with legendary figures including Billy McNeill, Bobby Lennox, Roy Aitken, Tommy Burns and Paul McStay.

But one man in particular left a lasting impression on the Wishaw youngster.

Sean said the "main highlight every day" was spending time around Celtic legend Neil Mochan.

He also travelled with the first team on several occasions, helping Mochan with the kit and other first-team duties.

Sean's hopes of progressing further were dealt a devastating blow in August 1990 when his hamstring "snapped" during a pre-season match against Bayern Munich's under-20 side.

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Much of the following year was spent either on the treatment table or working his way back to fitness, whether pounding the red ash track around Celtic Park or running at Queen's Park and Strathclyde Park.

However, football would ultimately provide Sean with an opportunity on the other side of the Atlantic.

He moved to America 32 years ago on a scholarship to play the game and loved life there so much that he decided to stay.

Sean has now since spent 26 years teaching history and coaching football at the same school in Homewood, Alabama.

Football has remained a major part of his family life too, with the proud father-of-four having had the chance to coach two of his daughters during their high school years.

His time in America has also provided another unforgettable footballing memory.

Sean had the opportunity to meet Brazilian icon Pelé while receiving an All-American Soccer award.

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But more than three decades after leaving Wishaw behind, Sean has now embarked on another unexpected chapter.

He has become a published author after releasing his first short story, A Reading from the Book of the Romans to the Holy Ballers.

The story is about a teenage Jesus playing football and combines two things which have remained important throughout Sean's life:.

Sean admits becoming an author was never something he expected.

He said: "I never thought that I would write a story, and probably a few of my auld teachers at St Aidan's would either.

"I love being Scottish, and it is something that I wear with pride every day that I teach.

"I wrote the story a few years ago, but with things the way they are in the world today, I feel that we need a wee laugh."

Sean says the story is beginning to gain some traction in America and he is excited to see where his newfound passion for writing takes him.

And the timing is particularly special for the former Wishaw man.

After 32 years living in America, he is preparing to return to Scotland next month for the first time in 14 years, when he will reunite with friends and family.