Back to reality for United goal hero Jamie!

Within an hour of coming off the pitch after his double strike sank league champions Linfield, the 18-year-old was back to reality as he began his shift as a barman at Control Nightclub at The Big House venue outside Ballymena.

“I had to be in work for six and I didn’t want to be late,” said Jamie, who had to deal with a barrage of media interviews as soon as he set foot out the door of the home changing room after his stunning performance.

“When I got to work, they had seen the result and the goals on TV – I don’t think they could believe it either!

“They were all congratulating me. My boss, Darrell Adams, is well into his football but he told me the best way for me to get back down to earth was to get started work!

“There are always a few Ballymena fans in on a Saturday night but because I was working I couldn’t even get a drink to celebrate, but I was buzzing anyway.

“Even now it hardly feels real but it’s over now and I have to concentrate on working hard – I can’t wait for training on Tuesday night.

“I don’t expect to play every game but at the same time, I want to try and play well and make it hard for the boss to leave me out.”

Possibly the only man prouder than Jamie himself was his father Roy, himself a former United player and a prolific goalscorer in local junior football circles.

“I think he was nearly on the pitch when I scored!

“Seriously, I owe him a lot – if it wasn’t for him I would have probably thrown the head up with football years ago,” added Jamie.

United boss Glenn Ferguson said: “We won’t get too carried away with Jamie because we don’t want to put too much pressure on him.

“At this moment in time he’s certainly no Gary McCutcheon but he has proved to us since we came to the club that he does have ability.

“We’re at him week in, week out about the things he has to do to improve so hopefully that will give him a lift for him to want himself to improve.

“Jamie has always wanted to play in the first team but at 18 it’s difficult to do that week in, week out.

“There might come a time when we have to pull the reins in a bit and keep him out for a couple of a games and bring him in again,” added Ferguson.