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Under the weight of a title race and a life-changing move, a father and son find themselves with a big few months ahead.
Alfie Mulvenna is on the brink of making the switch from Larne to London to join Crystal Palace's academy.
Meanwhile, Gary Haveron isn't just a parent preparing his son for the big move, he's the first team head coach aiming to guide Larne to the Irish Premiership title.
Mulvenna will become the third player to make the move from the Inver Reds, who are aiming to clinch their third Gibson Cup in four years, to Crystal Palace in the last four years.
'Like anyone else, it is hard to listen to dad!' – Haveron
Once the small matter of the title is decided, Haveron's attentions will swiftly turn to helping his son prepare for the move from Northern Ireland to England.
Mulvenna has played within the Larne academy for his whole life and was one of four Larne players in the recent Northern Ireland Under-17 squad for their European qualifiers.
"I think it is even harder for him because every conversation sounds like a lecture. Like anyone else, it is hard to listen to dad, particularly when he is so into football," Haveron told BBC Sport NI.
"Once he said the idea that he wanted to be a footballer, it was my job as a parent to prepare him for what the realities are. It is a tough world. It is a ruthless game and can be unforgiving.
"Football is full of unbelievable highs and lows. I think resilience is a big thing. I have probably been hard on him, he certainly will say I have been."
Alfie will make the switch over to Crystal Palace's academy in the summer when he graduates from the JD Academy.
The academy, based in Belfast, aims to develop emerging players across Northern Ireland with elite-level training alongside academic studies.
"Larne is a really small place, you can get from one side to the other in 20 minutes and, obviously, London is a lot bigger and there are a lot more people," Alfie said.
"I am excited to get over and be playing every week.
"I am used to being at Larne my whole life. I have never played for another club, but it'll be a good change and I'll not be having my dad nagging at me as much!"
'The aim is to play in the Premier League and for Northern Ireland'
Gary himself joined English side Wolves' academy as a 15-year-old and also played for Bolton Wanderers.
He then moved back to Northern Ireland, where he had a distinguished career in the Irish Premiership.
"I can honestly say I was massively unprepared," Haveron continued.
"I didn't have the contact time, the expertise and strength and conditioning was alien to us. You went over there and you were playing catch up before you arrived.
"Now kids in Northern Ireland, because of the JD Academy and what teams like Larne are doing with their kids, are given a better chance to go and have a career.
"If you look at the international team, it is littered with JD Academy graduates."
Alfie will follow in his dad's footsteps with the move over to England but inspires to be like fellow defender and former Northern Ireland international Gareth McAuley.
Since retiring, McAuley has taken over as under-19 Northern Ireland manager with Alfie aiming to be involved in his squad in the future.
"I grew up around him because my dad is very close to him, I have always looked up to Gareth as a role model and he has coached me multiple times," Mulvenna continued.
"I would love to end up like Gareth when I am older. That is the dream, to play for your country at Windsor Park some day and fingers crossed.
"The aim is to play in the Premier League and for Northern Ireland."
'I'm Alfie's biggest fan'
Alfie will become one of a number of young Northern Irish players who have made the move over to Premier League clubs from Northern Ireland.
Players such as Tottenham Hotspur Academy's George Feeney and Josh Kerr, who has just signed a professional deal at West Ham, are currently based in England.
Fellow youngsters Braiden Graham, at Everton, and Arsenal's Ceadach O'Neill have both have been on the bench for the senior squad and both play within the Northern Ireland u19 set-up.
At senior level, Liverpool's Conor Bradley, who played for Dungannon Swifts, and former Linfield and current Sunderland defender Trai Hume have also made the move from Northern Ireland.
Mulvenna's progress through the JD Academy and within the Northern Ireland set-up has been clear with his dad excited to see what the future holds for his son.
"I am his biggest fan," Haveron said.
"It'll be hard to see him go, but we are excited because it is all he has ever wanted to do and to be given the opportunity at a Premier League club like Crystal Palace is huge for him.
"It'll be quite a change from a small town like Larne, but he is ready for it. He has worked so hard for it and he deserves the opportunity."
Despite being so young, Alfie added that he wouldn’t have been able to secure the move if it wasn’t for his dad.
Now, he aims to make his family proud when he heads to England to begin the latest chapter of his football career.
"All we talk about is football, but I appreciate everything he has done for me, “he continued.
“It has helped me get to where I am today. I want to make my family and friends proud when I get over.
"All I can do is work hard and try my best and, with a bit of luck, I will get to the top."
