Sitting on bench on a warm May afternoon in Tramore, Courtney Duffus looks right at home in the sunny south east.
Originally from Cheltenham, he joined Waterford on-loan from Oldham in February and has banging in the goals since arrival.
"I’ve really been enjoying my football since I arrived," Duffus told RTE’s Soccer Republic.
"People having a hard time in England have been known to come over here and start enjoying their football again and that’s the main thing.
"Playing every week and also when things go well is great. Here you have the backing of the fans and the manager. You know that he is putting you in his team and he has 100% faith and trust in you.
"Alan (Reynolds) is very friendly and he tries to get us to play the right way, everyone trusts him so much. You can see that we try and play the right way for him."
Football was always a huge part of the 22-year-old’s life.
Growing up in the Gloucestershire town with three brothers and a sister, they spent a lot of time kicking a ball around.
Their dad was a big Manchester United fan and he instilled a love for the sport in his children.
Initially he played football enjoyment; it wasn’t until Duffus signed for Everton when he was 15 that he realised that it might be possible to have a career in the game.
"I started to take it seriously when I joined Everton, I was in my last year of school, I was doing school relief, so I did half a week in school back at home in Cheltenham and the other half of the week I’d be in Everton training and doing my school work there."
His brother Tyrone also signed with Everton and he too finished his last year of school there. At the club they regularly mixed with the first team and Republic of Ireland defender Seamus Coleman was a player he regularly encountered.
"He was a great person to be around, very humble. He’ll sit and talk to you and half a laugh with you."
Although Duffus never made the first team, he came agonisingly close. Roberto Martinez picked him for his squad for a Europa League game against Swiss side Young Boys.
He was warming up when John Stones was shown a red card and Everton conceded a goal. As a result Duffus never got on.
He moved to Oldham from Everton last year. Like many young footballers he desired to play first team football, not just be a part of the Under-23 squad, but a bout of illness inhibited his progress.
In February, Duffus was playing a development game for Oldham against Wigan when he got a phone from a staff member to say that Waterford were interested. He passed on his agent's number and shortly after he made the trip to his new club.
"I had heard a bit from players and friends about the league. I heard it was a good standard but there was a bit of criticism about it too.
"Now that I’m over here I don’t understand why it gets as much criticism as it does. The people who know the most about it say it’s not a bad league at all.
"I think it’s a very good standard, especially the top half of the table. They will try and play the right way which is what I like about it the most."
Duffus had some experience of Waterford city before he made the move, he played in the RSC for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 team against Slovenia in the European qualifiers.
His grandmother is from Limerick and he has high hopes of one day making the step-up to senior level.
Duffus has scored ten goals this season so far and has formed a good partnership with Izzy Akinade up front for the Blues.
"We play well together and we are friends around the changing rooms. As a back four I don’t think you would like to see me and Izzy running at you."
Alan Reynolds side are well in the title race, they are currently in third spot, seven points behind Dundalk before tonight's meeting Oriel Park.
Duffus suffered a cruciate knee injury in 2015 and since then has avoided playing on artificial surfaces, this includes the pitches at Dundalk and Derry.
"It’s an unfortunate thing, it's the last thing you want is any problems but when you are a title race and you have Dundalk away you want to be out there helping your team, you are tempted but not now."
At the end of June, Duffus will have a choice to make about his future as his loan deal is set to expire.
"I’m a Waterford player for now and I’m looking forward to whatever games I have left here, I’d like to keep playing football so I'll have to wait and see."
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