A Euro rollercoaster of emotions for Trev
Motherwell’s Europa League tie against Glentoran will be an incredibly emotional occasion for goalkeeper Trevor Carson.
The 32-year-old’s thoughts will be dominated by his grandparents when takes to the field at Fir Park on Thursday night.
Sadly, his grandmother, Esther Savage, passed away at the age of 75 after being struck down by coronavirus.
She was a fan of Glentoran, and her loss has devastated the family.
Carson’s grandad, Kenneth, played for the Belfast club, and the goalie says he remains a massive influence on his career.
The Well gloveman said: “He’s obviously struggling. They were together nearly 60 years, and it was their wedding anniversary last week.
“I think they got married at 18. It’s tough for him.
“There is never a good time to lose a loved one, but I think the circumstances we were in made it 10 times harder. “I haven’t had the chance to go home. With the scrutiny we are under as players in the Premiership, I can’t really go and visit family.
“If things were normal, my grandad would be over at least once or twice a month to see me playing.
“I was very close to my gran. I had to go home for a few weeks during the lockdown when she was going through it all.
“I never got the chance to say goodbye. She was in the hospital for 11 days, with no visitors allowed. “That was obviously a horrible time. “She had a real soft spot for the Glens, and always looked out for their results.
“For my family, it’s a nice time to play them and an emotional tie for us.”
Playing European football is a sign that Carson is really back in business as a player.
He suffered deep vein thrombosis at the end of 2018, and was on the sidelines for more than six months.
On his return, he was unable to dislodge Mark Gillespie as No. 1 at Fir Park.
Gillespie has now left the club and joined Newcastle United, giving Carson the chance to play first-team football again.
It was a bit of grandfatherly advice that led to him committing his future to the Steelmen.
He went on: “I had a few options in January to move on, and he was a massive factor behind me staying. “The Motherwell contract was on the table, and my granda was the one saying I should stay, be patient and wait for my chance.
“He is my biggest critic, but at the same time he is my biggest fan. “He was a keeper and got a ‘B’ call-up for Northern Ireland.
“I am where I am today because of him.
“Neither of my parents drove, so he drove me up and down the country. He paid for every pair of boots and every pair of gloves I had growing up
“He has been watching all the games this season and saying, ‘You look as confident as ever’.
“That has given me a big lift. “Motherwell have been good to me and are a good club.
“I owe them to stay for another couple of years and give my all.
“The fact we are playing in Europe has vindicated my decision.
“I am back in the Northern Ireland squad as well.”
Carson believes there are good times ahead for Motherwell, and his own career.
He said: “Going into this season, there were a lot of doubts about whether I could perform at the same level because I hadn’t played for so long.
“I’ve been proving to myself in the first four or five games that I can. I’ve taken a lot of confidence from that. “There were times when I did doubt myself. But I’ve got a very good family around me. They kept me positive and that was so important.
“If my granda says I have done all right in a game, that is all I need to hear.”