Shane Blaney came home for nights like this.
But the Sligo Rovers defender has designs on going even further into Europe as he knows it could open a window of opportunity down the line.
With John Mahon injured, Blaney, 22, will partner Garry Buckley in the heart of the Bit O’Red rearguard when they look to overturn Icelandic side FH Hafnarfjordur.
Briefly at Finn Harps four years ago, he returned to the League of Ireland over the winter after almost three years with Doncaster Rovers.
But playing Under-23s football - he also had loans at Tamworth and Grantham Town - wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
The Donegal man said: “The appearances you get in the League of Ireland and that experience of three points, it's absolutely massive.
“You don't get that playing 23s games over in England. Nobody cares. They care if you're playing well and playing the way you're supposed to play.
“But, at the end of the day, if you lose 2-0 there’s nobody giving you a bollocking in the dressing room afterwards because nobody cares.
“You just have to have that in yourself. But here in this league, you need points and the manager's job and other people's jobs are on the line.”
Blaney continued: “The big thing for me in England was ‘experience’ killed me.
“Any time I was close to getting a game, or starting in the league, it all came down to ‘this man has more experience than Shane’.
“That's what we're all here for, to get as many games as we can so that if anyone does get another break you have it behind you.
“All I wanted to do was go to England and play football, play professionally. It was a massive thing when it happened.
“When you look back now you think more games would have done me good because obviously I went over there without loads of experience.
“But I still really enjoyed my time. I made loads of good contacts and I know I can play over there if I get my chance again.”
Blaney had options to stay in England but all were outside of the Football League, so when Liam Buckley came calling, he didn’t have to think twice.
The perception of the League of Ireland is now a positive one to young Irish players who no longer look down their nose at it.
“It's not hard to see why as the majority of teams every week are playing out from the back and building through the thirds,” he said.
“It's not long ball any more. It's a great standard, there are some great players in the league and European football was also a massive pull for me.”
This evening, Blaney is confident that Sligo Rovers can overcome their one goal deficit having conceded late in Iceland.
“In the second-half over there we really got a hold of the game and it only looked like it was going one way until (Greg Bolger’s) sending off," he added.
"We're very confident going into this game because we know what we can do. We think we can get a couple of goals.”
Meanwhile, Johnny Kenny is ready to ride to Sligo Rovers’ rescue this evening..
The teenage striking sensation is fit again after almost three weeks out and will feature against FH Hafnarfjordur.
Kenny, 18, smashed a hat-trick in his last appearance - a 4-0 win over Bohs in late June - and Liam Buckley could hand him a start.
Buckley said: “There wouldn’t be a fitter player in our group. He’s 18 and you know how they are, they can take on the world.
“He trained this morning and he’s 100 percent. I have the options of starting him or bringing him off the bench.
“When we’ve played him from the start, his workrate has been tremendous and equally, off the bench, he’s pressed teams. He can get in behind.”
Defender Blaney feels Kenny is already one of the hottest properties in the league.
“He’s very level headed and it’ll be brilliant to have him back as we've missed him,” said Blaney.
“Running in behind, scaring defenders, he's a nightmare to mark as he's so non-stop.
“He's always looking to shoot. He could be 40-yards out and he's lining up a shot. He loves goals.”
Greg Bolger is suspended after his sending off in Iceland and John Mahon, Robbie McCourt and Ed McGinty are injured but new signing Adam McDonnell is available.
Buckley said: “We need to win the game so we’ll be attack-orientated. I have that in my mind.”
