Beginning his career under the guidance of Brian Kerr at St Patrick's Athletic, Curtis Fleming recalled the clever motivational techniques used by the former Republic of Ireland boss.
Like any number of players who passed through the League of Ireland on their way to a football career in England, Curtis Fleming retains an immense fondness for Brian Kerr.
Signed for St Patrick's Athletic by Kerr in the late 1980s, Fleming was part of a title-winning side that saw Pat's end over a thirty-year wait for league success.
Citing Brian Kerr as an immense influence on a career that would take Fleming to both the Premier League and the Republic of Ireland set-up, the former full-back explained one of the first lessons Kerr gave him on Thursday's OTB AM.
"I would be a huge fan of Brian Kerr," Fleming explained, "he took me from Belvedere [to St Patrick's Athletic].
"I was eighteen-years-old, wasn't sure what I'd be doing and was working in a shop happy enough playing with my mates.
"Then he came to the house one day to speak to my mam."
I'm going to start you for the first 10-games of the League of Ireland season. No one else will give you that
Making a pitch to Fleming and his mother, Brian Kerr made the young footballer an offer he was sure no other manager would match.
"He said: 'I'm going to start you for the first 10-games of the League of Ireland season. No one else will give you that,'" Fleming explained.
"He explained that if I did well great, if not, he's going to throw me out.
"For me, that was huge. Only two managers did that for me.
Alongside the chance Kerr offered Fleming at St Patrick's Athletic, it was Bryan Robson and the opportunity he afforded the young Irish full-back at Middlesbrough that keep both men in such high regard for Fleming.
Admitting that he'd still "run through a brick wall for Brian Kerr," Fleming remains in touch with his former manager and, like many with a fondness for Irish football, can't understand why the former international manager is being kept out in the cold.
"I just think it's a waste," he said of Kerr's absence.
"Deep down, Brian Kerr loves Ireland and loves Irish football.
"He was ahead of his time when he brought those young Irish teams to win tournaments, and he still goes to every game in Ireland: under-10s, 12s, pub leagues!"
Encouraging the Football Association of Ireland to "bite the bullet" and bring Kerr back into the fold, Curtis Fleming is not alone in hoping for such an outcome.
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