James McAllister is one of many footballers who play in lower divisions of English football in near anonymity. But he got a taste of superstardom when he played in the inaugural Indian Super League for David James’ Kerala Blasters.
Now the 36 year old has signed for Exeter City, who play in League Two i.e. fourth division of English football.
He reminisced about the time he spent in India with Blasters. He started off with the time he spent with Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who was owner of the franchise Kerala Blasters.
"He's got a big passion for football and he wants to try and drive football on and try and make it as big as cricket, if it can be, in India," McAllister told BBC Sport.
"Sachin's a very humble man, he's a nice man," he reminisced on a cold
January afternoon at Exeter's Cat and Fiddle training ground.
"We met him a few times, he had lunch with us a few times and he did a motivational speech in one of our meetings. He was very hands on with us. It was great just to be around him.
"I'm not a big cricket fan but the Indian lads worshipped him. He was so humble and easy to talk to."
The Scot was very impressed with the media attention that was garnered by the league and was happy to rub shoulders with the likes of Anelka, Ljungberg, Garcia and Pires.
"The interest and media coverage that went behind it was incredible," said McAllister.
He added that the young Indian players’ hunger and desire to learn is what made the league a success. And was also effusive about the cap on number of foreign players, which helped in nurturing the local talent even more.
"The Indian people were superb, while the players were eager and hungry to learn, do well and work hard, so it was a great experience.
"You had to have five Indian players in the starting 11 at all times, so there was always a mix between the foreign lads and the Indian boys, and it worked very well.”
He was impressed with the support from the fans in India as McAllister in his entire career hasn’t played in front of such massive crowds as he has plied his trade in the lower leagues where average attendance is more or less under 10,000.
"They were of a very good standard, the crowds were great and the football was good as well."
"In the semi-final we had 60,000 in the stadium and 20,000 outside watching it on a big screen," McAllister remembered. "The noise outside with drummers, DJs and fireworks before the game was superb.”
He also enjoyed the bit of stardom that came along with his stint in Kerala and is looking forward to comeback in the ISL’s next season.
"When you left the hotel you had to have security with you, as when you went to some of the big malls you were mobbed by fans wanting autographs. It was just incredible," said McAllister, who has spent most of his club career out of the limelight with clubs such as Bristol City, Aberdeen and Livingston.”
"It was a great learning experience," said McAllister. "
I would love to go back if I got the opportunity, although my main focus now is Exeter and wanting to do well here."
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