For many young players at this weekend's HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens, Hong Kong will be a huge culture shock, an experience they'll never forget. But for Celtic's Nick Feely, stepping out on the pitch at Hong Kong Football Club is just like coming home.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper spent the early part of his childhood here before his family left and, as he trained with his teammates on Friday, the memories of running about HKFC with his older brother as sports-mad boys came flooding back.
'I love coming back,' he said. 'I lived here until I was six, then moved to Australia with the family where I grew up. We lived over in Stanley, Tai Tam Road up in Faber Court. My mum was born here, but she's of British descent, my dad's from London and was out here working. It's a bit of a homecoming for me. I'm delighted to be back and my dad and little brother have come up, too. I've met a lot of people that I know, my dad's mates that are up here.'
Feely's father, Peter, played professional football himself in the 1970s, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Gillingham and Sheffield Wednesday among his clubs. After injury forced him to retire, he became a chartered surveyor and built up a real estate business in Hong Kong. He played soccer for USD and Caroline Hill here, and played rugby and coached soccer. He still visits the city regularly to manage his business interests and is here this weekend watching his son.
'I loved it,' said Feely of his childhood. 'Obviously, growing up with my older brother at the football club, we had great memories. I played seven-a-side soccer, mini-rugby ... I didn't really have a position then, it was just running around after the ball!
'I didn't really start playing goalkeeper until I was 14. I played defence or up front. Playing with my brother down the park, I'd get bullied into going in goal then realised, 'This is probably what I should be doing'.'
The family moved to Perth, where mum Cathy's parents were living, in the late 1990s, and their third son, Carlin, now 11, was born there.