The alarm clock sounds, Finn Regan packs his boots and heads off to Sumburgh Airport.
It is not long after 8am, the first Loganair flight of the day from Shetland and the beginning of a regular journey that he hopes will lead to fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
As the plane touches down in Aberdeen after an hour in the sky, excitement builds. Then there is the two-hour car journey to Perth. Sometimes it is the train.
The final destination is McDiarmid Park where Finn’s objective has always been to help his St Johnstone team-mates to three points. He will make the trip the following week, then the week after, then the week after that.
The promising striker, now 16, joined Saints three years ago after being spotted by head of the youth academy Alistair Stevenson. Ever since, the teenager from the small village of Gulberwick - supported by mum Tracey and dad Paul - has shown incredible commitment.
And he is scoring plenty of goals along the way.
“This year I have been at every single game apart from one. I’m completely used to the flight now,” said Finn, who grew up playing with Lerwick Rangers and attended Anderson High School.
“I’ve never seen it as a commitment. I just like playing football and want to play at the highest level I can. There is the chance to potentially play for a professional team. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Mum Tracey is grateful for the support that both St Johnstone and those back in Shetland have shown towards Finn’s football career.
“Everything you do involves travel when you live in a place like Shetland,” Tracey said. “It’s part of what you accept.
“It is all he wants to do - be a professional footballer. It’s going to take sacrifice, it’s going to take travel, it’s going to take commitment. He knows it is what he has to do to get his dream.
“Finn has played football since he was less than five years old. People have been very positive and we’ve had a lot of encouragement.
“And Alistair Stevenson always stays in touch and is always happy to talk. He will phone regularly to keep us updated.”
Finn has made the trip to Perth a little earlier this week ahead of Sunday’s under-17 Club Academy Scotland Cup final against Kilmarnock. The young Saints recorded eight wins and a draw in the earlier stages of the tournament to set up the showdown match.
Tracey added: “I’m so looking forward to this game on Sunday. It is a good group of boys and they have done incredibly well. Making the final is so special for them.”
Reaching the final has been hailed an “unbelievable” achievement by head of Saints’ youths Stevenson and Finn is now hoping his hot streak in front of goal can continue - especially considering a special milestone is not far away.
“We have kept picking up results, playing better and better,” said Finn, who is taking inspiration from Callum Davidson’s Perth stars and their cup double winning-heroics.
“I think I’m on 48 goals for my time at Saints so need two this weekend to get the 50. It would mean everything if we won. It would be perfect.”
