As Ronan Keating famously sung 'Life is a rollercoaster', the same could also be said of following the fortunes of Torquay United.
His nephew Ruairi Keating has now signed up for a new ride with the Gulls after agreeing a contract to stay at Plainmoor.
Keating, 21, found the back of the net three times in 15 appearances for United to help them avoid relegation from the National League in the 2016-17 season, whilst at Plainmoor on non-contract terms. He will now be looking to play a major part in helping the Gulls climb the National League table in the forthcoming 2017-18 campaign.
His pacy and direct style of play - along with a tenacious work ethic - proved to be a big hit with the United faithful during his 15-match stint and his displays have reminded your correspondent of a player that was once on the Gulls radar - a certain Jamie Vardy.
During the 2010-11 campaign, Vardy, then of FC Halifax Town, was recommended to the then Gulls' manager Paul Buckle but he went on to join Fleetwood and then to Leicester City and the rest - of course - is history.
As something of a late bloomer Keating's playing background from Sligo Rovers, Finn Harps and Galway United in the League of Ireland is probably not too dissimilar to Vardy's journey to Leicester via Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax and Fleetwood.
Even now as one of the Premier League's leading strikers, Vardy's work rate and tenacity - which he would have learned whilst combining playing in the Evo-Stik Northern League and Conference North - enables him to stand out against his current contemporaries.
During the course of a game, Vardy can make 14 runs against an opposition defender and get nowhere but can still find the energy within himself to make a 15th.
Such work rate can set the tempo for the rest of his teammates to follow and Keating's hunger and desire certainly had a similar effect on the Gulls as they avoided the drop into the National League South.
His aim now should be to hit double figures for United in the 2017-18 campaign and to continue to learn and improve, which is something that he certainly has the willingness to do.
