Aberdeen midfielder Niall McGinn has quickly had to become used to his celebrity status after his exploits at Euro 2016.
The Northern Ireland international, who spent much of his 29th birthday yesterday waiting for the plane from the Granite City to Riga for tonight’s Europa League second qualifying round second leg against Ventspils, was one of the standouts for the Green and Blue as they exceeded expectations by reaching the round of 16 of the competition before bowing out to eventual finalists Wales.
McGinn who scored his third international goal against the Ukraine during the tournament, quickly found he and his team-mates had friends in high places with four-time major winner Rory McIlroy among those keen to lend their support.
He said: “It was crazy to think someone like Rory McIlroy is immensely proud in how we did as a team when you think what he’s achieved. The support we got from the whole of Northern Ireland was unbelievable.
“Everything was so positive towards us. We knew when we were away that the support we got was great but it didn’t sink in until we got home and had our big parade.
“Years ago I never thought I’d be an international footballer so to get advice from someone like Rory McIlroy who is on the world stage and at the top of the three in his sport was amazing.
“It gives you an incentive to go on and do well. He’s my main idol in golf. I don’t play a lot of golf but I love watching it and I’ve been to a few tournaments – I was in Aberdeen and watched Rory in Abu Dhabi and Dublin.
“I was in Portugal a couple of weeks ago and I met his mum and dad on the plane and I ended up getting a round of golf with his best mate Harry Diamond and it was Rory who sorted it all out.
“That just shows you the nature of the man. I was in Portugal with my agent and I kind of know Harry who is going to be best man at his wedding. Harry texted asking if we wanted a round of golf.
“We showed up and wee buggy was there and the clubs were ready. I knew Rory’s mum and dad a bit from being at couple of different golfing tournaments and they came over and we had a good chat.
“It just shows the impact of doing well for Northern Ireland.
“Rory was the main celebrity to congratulate us. He flew out in his private jet and came into the dressing room after the Germany game. While we lost on the night, he was congratulating us on how we’d performed up until then.
“We met up in Dublin for a training camp before we went to Dublin and after Rory had won the Irish trophy he came in and hit a few balls with the boys and had a Q&A and it was great to speak to someone like that.
“It was good to get an insight into the work he puts in behind the scenes which could benefit us. He’s a down to earth guy and Michael O’Neill has done a good thing in the last couple of years by bringing in the likes of the boxer Carl Frampton and the singer Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol.
“It helps to know how these guys deal with everything, including dealing with the media and things like that. It’s an insight into the pressure he is under going into different tournaments.
“It was the best moment of my career to get away with my international team and to be part of what was an unbelievable experience and to score that goal topped it off nicely on a personal note.
“It’s been absolutely crazy right up until now where people are still congratulating me because I’m seeing people for the first time since returning from the Euros in France.
“The messages of support and congratulations have been unbelievable. We were disappointed after the Wales game but as the weeks go on you look back and realise how well we did as a team, even to qualify for the tournament.
“To go there and get one win out of our three tough games and qualify for the last 16 was a great achievement for a country of our size. It just shows what you can do with hard work.”
