Connor's journey from fan to player

Connor Pain ... completes an incredible football journey with Melbourne Victory. Source: Salpigtidis George / News Limited

Connor Pain made the journey most football fans can only ever dream of on Thursday, signing a professional contract with Melbourne Victory after years of cheering them on from the stands.

Pain, whose grandfather Tommy Casey played for Newcastle United when the team last won silverware, in the 1955 FA Cup final and the 1958 World Cup, was born in Hong Kong and moved to Melbourne aged eight.

"Our family's a big football family and I've grown up watching it, grown up loving it," Pain said.

"It's in our blood, I suppose."

So too is the Victory.

"I went to every game. It’s a bit surreal I’m on the same pitch," he said. "I had a year in there," he said of the hard core supporters area. "And it was a bit of fun."

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