After opening his Bristol City account with his bullet header against Rotherham, Cam Pring has worked up an appetite for goals.
While his family weren't in attendance to witness his proud moment, there was one familiar face in the stands finally tasked with keeping true to his word and serving Pring a free steak meal in his hometown restaurant.
Andrew Starling is a close family friend to the Pring's and is the landlord and head chef of The Falcon Steakhouse in Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Having witnessed his rise through the academy at City, Starling made Pring a promise when he penned his first contract in 2016.
"It was when he first signed his initial contract," he told Bristol Live. "I messaged him and said on your first goal, come to dinner on me. He kind of laughed it off and I reminded him of it when he scored last week.
"We've kept a close eye on the academy results and if he starts or not and it was great to see him breakthrough into the first-team squad and he seems to have settled down in the first team. We've been waiting for his goal for a long time and it finally came.
"Me and my dad always say, 'is it going to be today?' and he looks at me when he's about to take a shot but it was good to see him pop up with a goal."
Despite a beaming smile from ear to ear, Pring wasn't in the party mood standing on the touchline in the baltic conditions at The New York Stadium. as he admitted he'll head straight to bed to try and fight off his sore throat.
But he made up for lost time this week after receiving a message from Starling, a season ticket holder at the club for 30 years, requesting he pay a visit where he was treated to the sharing 20oz Chateaubriand Steak with his girlfriend.
"I messaged him to prompt him, he didn't jump on the bandwagon. I messaged him saying 'come on, you better come and have this dinner then,'" Starling added.
"We know the Pring's really well. His mum used to work for us and his mum, Kara, sells her artwork on our restaurant walls. He's a top guy and the whole town is absolutely buzzing with the fact he's doing so well."
Pring is enjoying a rich vein of form in the City side after taking advantage of injury and illness to line up in defence against Swansea. After being out of the squad for nine of the first 11 league matches, he has started the last six including moving into his favoured wing-back role against Rotherham and Stoke.
Heading into the defeat against the Potters, manager Nigel Pearson challenged Pring to cement his place in the side. The 24-year-old further staked (pun intended) his claim by showing off his athleticism by using his pace and power to assist Nahki Wells' goal on Saturday.
"I'm really pleased for him but I think with Cam Pring, the big thing for him is for him to nail down that position himself. He's in the side and deserves to be there," Pearson said of his role in the side. "He's a really good athlete and his pace and power is a huge asset of his so I'm pleased he's able to hold down a place."
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