His home ground at Everton may have seen him playing before 40,000, but Tim Cahill has described his first club kick in Australia as "humbling".
The Socceroos legend played his first senior club game back in Australia at Perry Park in Bowen Hills in front of a capacity crowd of less than 10 per cent of that which Everton's home pitch can handle. But for Cahill, it was the right way to come home.
"These are the parks I grew up in," he said. "It takes you back. It's humbling."
And despite all the accolades and achievements, Wednesday night's win over Brisbane Strikers is a game he will always remember.
"Being involved tonight was good. I got a taste of football and a taste of winning an important round," Cahill said.
"It's personal for me, it's a mark for me. I'll be able to look back on this in 10 years."
Hundreds of fans gathered after the match to catch a glimpse of, arguably, one of Australia's best football players and Cahill said that was a major reason he made the decision to come home after two decades playing overseas.
"I could have stayed out there (signing autographs) a lot longer," he said. "This is what football is all about... growing communities.
"That's what excites me as much as winning."
More than 3500 fans - a record crowd for Perry Park - came out to watch Tim Cahill play for an Australian club for the first time in his career on Wednesday night when his new team Melbourne City travelled north to play the Brisbane Strikers in the FFA Cup Round of 16.
City coach John van't Schip made the crowd wait until the 64th minute to let Cahill off the bench, but he certainly made his presence felt.
After a cross from the Strikers' Hiroki Omori found Greig Henslee's right foot sending the ball past City keeper Thomas Sorensen to give the home team the lead in the 33rd minute, the home crowd were feeling confident. But Henslee's celebration was short lived.
A messy tackle in the box gave the visitors a penalty which City captain Bruno Fornaroli converted for the visitors to bring the scores back even heading into half time.
Cahill's appearance 19 minutes later galvanised his own team but also re-energised the Strikers, who were determined to deny him a win to mark his return.
Cahill's first shot at goal came just nine minutes after he walked into the game, leaping over the Strikers' defenders to search for the back of the net.
But the Strikers were too quick and keeper Michael Weier leapt on the ball before Cahill could taste victory.
Another messy tackle in the box saw City given their second penalty of the night and Fornaroli easily earned his team their second goal.
Cahill's 26-minute run on the pitch didn't deliver any goals for his team, but in the end they didn't need it.
A valiant effort from the home team in the final 15 minutes failed to turn hope into goals and the visitors left victorious.
Brisbane Strikers 1.
Melbourne City 2.
But what Brisbane did win was the bragging rights that the Socceroo played his first game back home at a small park in Bowen Hills watched on by 3571 very dedicated fans.
