Fraser Bryden went from buying tickets to Lee Bullen's bow to playing a starring role for Ayr's new head coach.
The United hitkid, 17, got a dream call from the bench in yesterday's 1-0 cinch Championship win over Arbroath.
It comes less than two weeks after the Academy product was handed a chance to impress in first team training under interim boss Davie White.
And Bryden, a diehard Ayr fan since childhood, has revealed how his whirlwind week started with joining online queues to snap up a ticket for the game.
He said: "It's been an unbelievable few days.
"I only found out I was involved on Friday night when the squad was announced.
"Thankfully my dad Peter was able to be here, I've been coming to games since I was 10 and originally sat up in the stand with him.
"More recently I've been in behind the nets with my pals and go home and away every week.
"My best mate Mason Carson is the lad who bangs the drum in the Somerset Road End.
"So for me to go from that to pulling on the shirt...there's just no better feeling."
Dailly schoolkid Bryden, who attends Grange Academy's Performance School under the guidance of former Ayr striker James Grady, added: "I used my season ticket this week to get my dad a ticket for today's game.
"I joined the online queue to make sure he was one of the 500 who would be here today, so that was fortunate," he said.
"There's no better feeling to go from supporting the team every week to be pulling on the shirt.
"I was shaking all morning after getting the news – I just thought I'd be on the bench for experience.
"So to actually get on the park was an amazing feeling, when I got called from the bench I couldn't wait to get on there
"My aim now is just to keep working as hard as I can and show what I can do.
"Michael Moffat has been the main man since I started following Ayr – just getting to watch him in training every day is brilliant and his touch is amazing.
"He's definitely who I model myself on and I'd love to take inspiration from his game moving forward."
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