AFC Bournemouth
A total of 452 miles separates Queens Park Football Club in Glasgow and the Vitality Stadium.
Barring any traffic issues, that equates to around a seven-and-a-half-hour journey by car.
Despite the lengthy excursion for goalkeeper Callan McKenna, who has only just turned 17, AFC Bournemouth became the destination he decided to take in his promising career.
Having joined the Cherries from the Scottish Championship outfit earlier this month, McKenna has already featured in a handful of games for James Lowy’s under-18s.
He helped the club’s academy to a 2-1 victory at Millwall last week, as well as saving a penalty against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
And speaking to afcb.co.uk for the first time since his arrival, McKenna revealed how everyone at the club had made him feel welcome in his new surroundings.
“It was a tough decision to come here but I’m positive that I’ve made the right one and I’m enjoying it so far,” said the six-feet four-inch keeper.
“Being away from my family is quite tough but the boys have been good and the people at the club have been good with me settling in. I’m enjoying it.
“I’ve got a place sorted. I’m with some of the other boys from the team, so that’s good as well, getting to know them off the pitch.
“There’s almost not anywhere further away in the UK! But I think it will help me as a person off the pitch as well, being so far away from home.
“If you’ve not got a good group, it makes it harder, but everybody has really helped me. All the boys are good boys, and they try their best to make it easier for you.”
The talented teenager made nine appearances for Queens Park's first team earlier this campaign, having signed a professional contract with the club a year ago.
He set tongues wagging on social media back in August, having performed a Cruyff turn on his own goal-line against Arbroath to manoeuvre himself away from a pressing forward.
“The centre-halves threw me under the bus didn’t they?! I didn’t plan on doing it, it just kind of came off,” said McKenna.
“In the clip, it makes it out that I’ve just kicked it out but I actually found the winger and we started an attack the other side.
“It doesn’t show you that in the clip but it was a spur of the moment kind of thing. Ultimately, at least it didn’t go in the net.”
He added: “It raises a lot of eyebrows to see a young goalkeeper playing in Scotland.
“As much as it was only nine games, they will stand me in good stead and were good experiences.”
Having worked across the club’s goalkeeping ranks since his arrival, McKenna believes he has already enhanced his knowledge since joining the Cherries.
“It opens your eyes because there are so many different ways of goalkeeping,” said the Scotland youth international.
“Especially being with the first-team boys, there are goalkeepers that have made hundreds of appearances – really experienced goalkeepers.
“With the under-18s and development squad as well, it’s getting to know all the players but it’s all different experiences and I’m enjoying it.
“I want to become as physically developed as I can off the park and get to settle in. Hopefully come the end of the season, I can get to know the place a bit better,
“On the park, I want to play as many games as I can. Just go into each game with the same mindset to try to get better every day.”
