Chris Hogg admits that his own personal experience will help him have an eye for any late developers at Newcastle United.
The new Toon coach - who arrived from Ipswich Town this week - was three years older than some of the kids starting the process at United's Academy today.
Newcastle start looking at players from the age of just eight-years-old but Hogg was still riding around on his BMX at that stage.
Hogg said: "I got brought up on a BMX.
"Me and my cousins just loved BMXing.
"My old man used to put us in the back of his work van and take us down to London and compete on BMX.
"I was fortunate to have parents who did that for me.
"It was hard times for them travelling but that competitive element has always been there from an early age.
"It's one of those steps and look back on and think it was great.
"It gave me a certain set of skills around practicing and doing extra bits of work and what you need to be successful."
Hogg, though, moved on to football to start laying the foundations for a career that took him to Ipswich, Hibernian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
He said: "I got bored of the BMX.
"I got bored of the travelling and my bike.
"A couple of my friends played football and I decided to go along to the local team.
"I was terrible at nine or 10, but I got going and practiced and got up to a good level.
"It rapidly developed through 12, 13, 14, 15, 16...
"It has been a journey, I was at Ipswich at 16.
"I spent trial periods at places like York City and I got put forward to England trials.
"I played in the Victory Shield and then on to Ipswich and Hibs for seven years.
"It was all part of the experience of playing the game, it is a tough old world.
"I ended up going back to Ipswich to get involved in coaching so it has been a journey for sure.
"I am now at this point with Newcastle and I am excited to see where we go."
