From growing up in Zimbabwe to living above a pub in Greenock would be a culture shock to say the least.
But that’s exactly what happened to former Wales international Robert Earnshaw when he joined Morton on loan. The striker was shipped up to Inverclyde as a 17-year-old in order to gain not just first team football experience, but life experience as Cardiff City looked to toughen him in preparation for making the step up with them.
Earnshaw headed to Inverclyde as a wide-eyed teen, but never expected his digs would be directly above a boozer. However, the former West Brom, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest frontman admits he wouldn’t change it for the world. He played three times for the Cappielow club, including a game against Rangers who boasted some serious players before heading back down to South Wales a changed man. He told talkSport: “I was 17 at Cardiff under Frank Burrows and he told me, ‘I’ve got the place for you son, you’re going to Greenock’.
“I went there on loan for a month and when I got there, I was taken to a pub and told ‘there’s your keys, you’re living up stairs.’ It was a Bn’B above a pub and that was me.
“It was about teaching me life lessons. On my own away from home for the first time to toughen me up. And boy it toughened me up! I actually played against Rangers whilst I was living there. They had Stefan Klos, Jorg Albertz, Andrei Kanchelskis, Tugay, van Bronckhorst, all the stars.
“Living above this pub in Scotland, but honestly, what an experience. I played in the snow – full, white snow – against Dunfermline! I loved it.”