The programme, on BBC One Northern Ireland on Wednesday, October 31 at 10.40pm, catches up with former Down star Martin Clarke who helped Down Minors clinch an All-Ireland title and led his school side, St Louis Kilkeel, to consecutive MacRory Cup finals.

Reporter Thomas Kane talks to Martin who swapped the Mournes for Melbourne when he signed a two-year professional contract with Collingwood Football Club – the biggest sporting club in Australia. Season Ticket is with Clarke as he adapts to his new surroundings in Melbourne coming to terms with being miles from home and an intense fitness regime as well as coping with the challenge of playing a completely different code at professional level.

Clarke had a dream of one day playing in the AFL, but no one could have predicted his meteoric rise in such a short space of time. He started the season playing for Collingwood’s reserve side Williamstown and ended it walking out in front of almost 100,000 fans as part of the first team challenging for the Aussie Rules title. He talks about making his debut against the Sydney Swans, just eight months after first kicking the Oval ball and the challenges of leaving home and Gaelic football behind.

The programme also follows Martin on this return to Cranfield at the end of the Aussie Rules season. Season Ticket is with him when he visits his old school as well as rejoining his club mates at An Riocht to help them in their bid to lift the Down League Championship title. Martin also talks about his hopes for the future back in Australia and at home in Ireland.

Season Ticket is on BBC One Northern Ireland at 10.40pm on Wednesday, October 31 with another chance to see it on BBC Two Northern Ireland the following night at 7.00pm.
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Issued: Thursday, October 25 2007
For further information please contact Kevin McCauley in the BBC Northern Ireland Press Office, 028 9033 8000