Walsall stalwart Liam Kinsella enjoyed the ride at Bescot
"The heart of a lion" was how Liam Kinsella was described by fellow teammate Dean Holden following his Walsall debut in 2014.
Effort and loyalty of a sacrificial nature saw Kinsella transform into a Saddlers stalwart over the course of his nine years at Bescot.
Kinsella had actually been on Walsall's books for a decade by the time he made his debut in a goalless draw against Bradford City in the opening home game of the 2014-15 campaign.
He had witnessed the likes of Darryl Westlake, Mal Benning and Jamie Patterson break into the senior set-up, and now it was his chance to shine.
"It's important when you're in the youth team to have players that have done the same and have gone on to have a successful career," Kinsella recalls.
"That's what Jamie Patterson was for me when I was a young lad. He was someone I looked up to, and I hope that my journey served as a similar example for other young players.
"My debut was a fantastic day. I played at right-back because there was an injury (to James O'Connor). I walked into the changing room and the nerves kicked in as soon as I was told that I would be starting.
"It was the moment that I had dreamt of as a little kid. I was so excited, and I just wanted to impress the fans, my teammates and the staff."
