Saying goodbye is never easy but Alfie Lewis didn’t even get the chance to do it in person.
After 13 years with West Ham, the midfielder was released by the Premier League club this summer and set free into the big bad world of men’s football.
But while those goodbyes with old team-mates and pals like Declan Rice were restricted to text messages and video calls, Lewis has still embraced the parting of the ways.
He was a West Ham player when he joined St Pat’s on loan at the start of the season, but became a free agent during the summer.
And having stood out in that first-half of the season, Saints were eager to tie the 21-year-old to a permanent deal until the end of the Irish campaign.
Considering how long he spent at the Hammers, Lewis could have sulked about his exit or even felt sorry for himself with his pride hurt.
Not so.
"It was definitely hard as I'd been there since I was 8 or 9 years old,” said the midfielder ahead of tonight’s clash with bottom side Longford Town.
“When you leave, it's obviously a sad thing. But you know it's going to happen to a lot of boys and you have to push away and move away to play men's football.
“So I don't try to look at it that way, I'm just looking towards Pats and doing everything for my career now.
“It happens to loads of boys. I have mates who it has happened to but that's football and you can't do much about it.
“I just want to focus on my career and get back to playing at the highest level I possibly can.
“Mentally, coming to St Pat’s has been the best thing for me. Moving into a new environment has benefitted me a lot and helped me for the future.
“But no, because of Covid I didn't really get to say goodbye properly. That's something I will do when I go back to England.
“But I still chat with the boys that I played with and have texted the staff who managed and coached me through the years. I still keep in contact with all of them.”
Lewis, who is living in Citywest with his team-mate Paddy Barrett, admits the potential lure of European football next summer is a tantalising prospect.
And yet he is coy on whether it will be enough to seal the deal on extending his permanent stay with the Saints.
“I don't know,” he said when pressed on his plans for next season. “I've not really thought about that.
“I'll wait until the season ends to see what's next but I've really enjoyed it here and if we get into Europe and challenge for the league, we’ll see.
“Europe would be a great opportunity to show your ability. You want to play in those games as it’s not something you get in England’s lower leagues
“You get it here in Ireland and that’s our aim to do that for next season, which would be exciting.”
But Lewis has grasped the step up to senior football having played in academies and underage structures prior to his League of Ireland switch.
“I think I’ve gotten better as the games have gone on,” he said.
“We play the Checkatrade Trophy in England where you play against the men's teams but that's only a few games a season so you don't get a feel from it.
“Here, I’ve learned a lot from playing in these games and it's great to be challenging for the league as you can't wait for the games to come around each Friday.
“I wanted to stay for the rest of the season and it was an easy decision as the team has been challenging and I've been playing regularly.
“Hopefully we'll be challenging for the league all the way to the end and be in the Cup final.”
Meanwhile, Lewis has tipped his old West Ham team-mate Mipo Odubeko to make it to the top.
The Hammers striker this week joined Huddersfield Town on a season long loan, although a break clause for January is included in the deal.
Odubeko is causing a stir in Ireland as the Irish underage cap is stalling over his international intentions.
He is sitting out the upcoming Ireland Under-21 qualifiers against Bosnia and Luxembourg.
And the 18-year-old opted not to join up with the Under-21 squad on two other occasions this year amid interest from Nigeria.
Lewis played with Odubeko at West Ham and saw the Dubliner break into the first-team last season under David Moyes.
Lewis said: “I played with Mipo a lot of times last season and when he first came to the club.
“He's a good player, still only young at 18 but he's a great finisher and a great all round striker who will only get better as he grows and matures.
“The loan to Huddersfield will really benefit him as a person as well as a player. He can go on and be a top player.
“Hopefully he comes on as a player and gets back into the West Ham frame come the end of the season.”
And asked if he had insight on Odubeko’s intentions with Ireland, Lewis said: “I’m not sure what’s happening but I don’t think he has decided.”
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
