FAN-TASTIC

Andy Rose is used to the understudy role, having spent several years in the United States, where players are often outshone by the movie mogul owners, celebrity supporters or the sprinkling of A-list imports brought in to see out their careers while bolstering interest in the sport.

This weekend he and his Motherwell team-mates will again be seen as supporting actors, as Celtic attempt to wrap up a double treble with Scottish Cup victory at Hampden, but Rose says the Fir Park side have the wherewithal to be scene stealers.

Australian born, to English parents, after a number of years in the Bristol City academy, Rose took up a scholarship at UCLA, in Los Angeles, and combined college soccer with appearances in the USL Premier Development League. After graduating, he was signed by Seattle Sounders, a club co-owned by film producer and director Joe Roth and actor and comedian Drew Carey, along with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and businessman Adrian Hanauer. The presence of Carey, Roth and their celebrity friends have heightened the appeal of a game that is growing in America.

“I’ve met them both a few times, whenever we played at home in some of the bigger games. The big one for us was [nearest rivals] Portland Timbers and, any time LA Galaxy cameuptoplayagainstuswith David Beckham, Landon Donovan, those sort of superstars, they were always there,” says 28-year-old Rose, who was happy to extend his stay at Motherwell yesterday when he signed a new deal along with fellow midfielder Liam Grimshaw until the end of next season.

“I remember a few times after winning games they would come down to the changing rooms and before games, they wished us well. I suppose there is a little bit of Hollywood up in Seattle.

“They have done a tremendous job with the crowds. In my biased opinion, they have the best atmosphere in

“One thing I’ve learned in Scottish football is that the passion of the crowds is unbelievable”

ANDY ROSE