Source: Team_Talk
Staggies striker living the dream
Paul di Giacomo will be idolised by thousands if he helps Ross County lift the Scottish Cup against Dundee United this weekend.[LNB] But the Staggies striker will just be happy to be a hero to his young son when he runs out against Dundee United at Hampden.[LNB]Di Giacomo is planning to turn Saturday's showpiece into a family affair and is desperate to make it an occasion to remember.[LNB]The 27-year-old will be watched by eldest son Paolo who, at three, is only just beginning to comprehend what his father does for a living.[LNB]"He understands daddy has to try to score goals," said Di Giacomo.[LNB]"He'll pretend he's me scoring a goal out in the back garden.[LNB]"Hopefully, we can do well on Saturday and I can tell my wee boy about daddy playing in the cup final, show him the video.[LNB]"That would be great, especially if we win.[LNB]"That's what it's all about."[LNB]With an Italian heritage, it is hardly a surprise that family comes first for Di Giacomo.[LNB]It was the sole consideration when the forward decided to uproot his wife and two sons from their Glasgow home and move 180 miles north to Inverness last summer.[LNB]"The manager, Derek Adams, wanted to sign me the previous summer but I said no to him," revealed Di Giacomo, who instead joined Airdrie United after a decade at Kilmarnock.[LNB]"I'm a Glasgow boy, I've got two young children and I didn't want to come all the way up to Inverness, where I stay.[LNB]"It was a big move, a big commitment to have to uproot everybody.[LNB]"But after speaking to my wife about it, we decided to come up and make a go of it and it's been fantastic.[LNB]"I spoke to the manager and he was very positive about the place - said I would enjoy it and that is was a great place for children.[LNB]"He's right: it is.[LNB]"He never once mentioned anything about a Scottish Cup final!"[LNB]Indeed, no-one at Irn-Bru First Division County could have imagined the club would find themselves in their first ever cup final.[LNB]That they have done is down to the greatest result in their history: last month's shock semi-final victory against Celtic.[LNB]Di Giacomo was an unused substitute that day and said: "The 11 that played were doing such a good job, they didn't need me![LNB]"It was just un unbelievable achievement and credit to the 11 that played.[LNB]"Hopefully, whoever's playing Saturday can achieve something similar."[LNB]The striker has been back in the side since and is desperate to start this weekend.[LNB]He added: "I've a lot of friends and family coming to the game.[LNB]"There were 35 tickets I had ordered.[LNB]"They're a mixture of fans: Celtic, Rangers, Partick Thistle.[LNB]"The wee fella will be kitted out.[LNB]"Hopefully, it's sunny on the day so the kids can wear their strips.[LNB]"If we win, a steward cannot stop me getting my kids on to the park.[LNB]"I'll have my wee boy on my shoulders.[LNB]"It would just be fantastic."[LNB]Di Giacomo has dreamt of playing in a cup final ever since he was a child and hopes he can inspire his son to do the same.[LNB]"My boy may be a bit too young to be thinking of that but in three or four years' time, he might be," he said.[LNB]"When I was a wee boy playing in my back garden with my pals, that's what I was thinking: scoring a goal in the cup final.[LNB]"It'd be amazing.[LNB]"We're not getting carried away. We've still got 90 minutes against a really, really good team, but a team we're capable of beating."
