It's hard to believe that six years ago Swans defender Ashley Williams was waiting tables and working the funfair at Drayton Manor.
Fast forward to the last 10 days and Williams was not only being crowned the Welsh Player and Club Player of the Year, but he was also leading out his country in an international against Scotland.
Williams followed in the footsteps of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes, John Hartson, Neville Southall, Craig Bellamy and Simon Davies who have all been crowned the 'King of Wales' in recent years.
"It was quite a week, undoubtedly the best week of my career,'' beamed Williams, who was released by West Brom as a 16-year-old before restarting his career with non-league Hednesford Town.
"It is an honour to win such an award when you think exactly who has won it in the past. In fact, things have moved so quickly for me, I am still a little shocked.
"Along with singing the anthem and leading the boys out against Scotland it was the proudest moment of my career.
"I really enjoyed it. It was a dream week for me and we topped it off with a great win."
It's been an amazing 18 months for Williams after first making his Welsh debut and then securing a £400,000 switch to Swansea from Stockport County.
But despite securing a new four-year deal with the Swans last month, the 25-year-old is sensible and mature enough to keep his feet firmly on the floor.
"I don't believe I have made it,'' he was quick to point out. "I have not got to the Premier League and I've only played for Wales for 18 months."
His club skipper Garry Monk is certainly convinced his central defensive partner is destined for the Premier League — but with Swansea City.
"With the attributes he's got — strength, passing and an athlete as well — he's definitely got the potential to reach the Premier League,'' explained Monk.
"Those ingredients have worked well and I'm sure it won't be long until he gets there — with us.
"I think it's probably the best week of Ashley's career and he deserves it. I've said before he's got great potential and he's living up to it.
"He's playing really well and he's captained his country. I spoke to him about it and he was probably the proudest man in Wales.''
It's a view shared by his manager, Paulo Sousa, who added: "Ash is one of the players who has developed a lot, but he is also someone who can go a lot further.
"He already has the quality to play in outstanding teams. He has grown and developed a lot as a player, but he also has time to progress, be more consistent in his game and have more quality.
"But he is a player that wants to progress and I think he has not finished here. He has the chance to keep progressing and earn a lot more recognition because he is a fantastic boy and a fantastic player."
