Stars more than just team-mates to Shaun

Nothing matters more to Shaun Byrne than family.

It’s why he is still at Livingston after bigger clubs came calling – because he had one in the dressing room when he needed them most after the death of his mother. It ’ s a lso why, when he walks out against Celtic today, he’ll proudly have an arm around the shoulder of girlfriend Katy’s adopted sister Lisa Mar i e as his personal mascot, helping her deal with her autism, a badge of honour and maturity for the 25-year- old. One he believes is defining him as much as a person as a superb first season in top-flight football is as a player. Speaking emotionally about the people who’ve kept him on the straight and narrow through a tough two years, Byrne loves the idea of being able to say a heartfelt thanks. He said: “The club did this a couple of times last year, said the players could take one of their kids or wee brothers or sisters out on to the pitch with them at the start of a game. It’s a nice idea. “I was maybe going to ask my wee brother Jack but he’ll probably not be interested – he’ll be in the other end. “He’s 13 but he’d probably pass me in the tunnel and walk out with Kieran Tierney! But I brought Lisa Marie out with me when I did it last year at the play-off game with Dundee United. She enjoyed that.

“Katy’s mum and dad fostered her when she was six years old. Didn’t eat. Didn’t speak. She had a really tough upbringing but now she’s such a strong wee girl.

“She’s got autism so has her own problems but Katy and I take her everywhere. She’s such a big part of our lives.”

Byrne’s journey in l ife and football has been a tough road.

The death of dad Anthony when he was a toddler saw him spend a lot of his upbringing with doting gran Patsy, before mum Lorraine passed away at the age of 47.

He said: “I stay with Katy’s mum and dad now – when my mum passed away, my wee brother moved into my room at my gran’s.

“So we’re with Lisa Marie all the time. She’s a handful at times. I never even knew what autism was until I met her but you learn as you go along. I’ve matured a lot.

“It’s funny because she’ll wear ear defenders, she doesn’t like the loud noises and stuff but when she comes to the games she absolutely loves the atmosphere, the singing.

“She was at the game against Hamilton last week and was up celebrating when they scored! Katy had to get her to sit down.

“Katy and I are actually hoping to get our own house in the next six months or so and we’ll expect her to be a big part of our lives there as well.

“Obviously she’s adopted now so it won’t just be as simple as that – we’d speak to social work and see how it all goes.

“At the moment we provide the respite when their mum and dad go away but she’s getting to the age now where it’s getting harder for them to look after her and it’s something Katie and I want to do.

“I don’t know what the alternative would be for her – I just know I wouldn’t ever be able to watch her go away.

“It just shows you what the love of a family can do. She’s still a wee terror at times but there’s many more good times.” The love of Byrne’s football family has been just as important for him through his hardships.

A gang assembled in League One, they’ve climbed mountains together and confounded critics to more than hold their own in the Premiership.

The former Dunferml ine midfielder said: “I just feel that with footbal l , i f you’ve any problems at home, you can leave them at the door.

“When my mum passed away I missed one day of training. It wasn’t nice. I’ve got my wee brother as well so I had to be strong for him too but the club was amazing.

“Davie Martindale and David Hopkin, all the boys in the changing room, they made it as easy for me as it could be. That’s all a part of why I feel we’re so close.

“So when it came to the decision in the summer, when I had one or two options at bigger clubs, I felt that I owed the club to stay.

“I couldn’t walk away from this dressing room.

“No one expected us to be here and being in the top flight with most of the players you’ve been with in League One was a massive factor in signing.” An undefeated run of seven games and 17 points out of 21 had Livi flirting with the top two before backto- back single goal defeats saw them tumble into eighth.

But Byrne believes they go into their lunchtime live TV clash with Celtic under no pressure.

He said: “Everyone’s expecting us to get hammered. “We’ve got belief in ourselves that we can go out and give them a good game though.

“We were favourites to get relegated but teams are starting to lift their game against us now because of how well we’ve done.

“We have to kick on and lift our game again.”