Cycling to training on his own as a 10-year-old kid.
And by 14, training with Shrewsbury Town’s first-team, making wonder saves on a muddy Shropshire pitch.
It was pretty clear to Dave Timmins from early on that Joe Hart had something about him.
And it wasn’t just his goalkeeping ability.
That was never in question from the moment the coach first laid eyes on him.
What was even more evident to Timmins was Joe Hart ’s strength of character and single-minded attitude.
When he went on to play for Manchester City and England, Timmins felt a deep sense of pride at what his protege had achieved.
Even now, Hart still cites Timmins as one of his biggest influences as a player and person.
But a few years ago the keeper found himself in the footballing wilderness as a back-up for Burnley and Tottenham.
At that time, Timmins was concerned for the boy he first coached at the age of eight.
Then he remembered that resilience and mental toughness he had shown at Gay Meadow in England’s lower leagues.
He was convinced Hart would bounce back. And that’s where Celtic came in.
Under Ange Postecoglou, the 35-year-old hit top form again as a key player in their title-winning side last season.
He’s the undisputed No.1 and will wear that jersey next term after Vasilis Barkas was sent out on loan. Timmins isn’t surprised.
Just like at Shrewsbury, City, or wherever else, he knows Hart loves defying the odds.
In an exclusive interview with MailSport , the goalkeeping coach – who has enjoyed spells at Morton and Ayr United – said: “This shows the type of lad Joe was when he was younger.
“He used to get on his bike and cycle to training on his own at just 10 years old.
“He was different class, so committed.
“Even as a kid, Joe did everything he possibly could to give himself a chance of making a living from the game. And he has done more than that – he has played at the very highest level.
“Joe has never had excuses. He was like that as a boy.
“If things weren’t going right for him, he wouldn’t sulk. He’d just say: ‘Right, how can I make it better?’
“When things turned for him a bit and he wasn’t playing regularly for a couple of years, deep down I knew he’d get through it because of the type of human being he is.
“I was concerned because I’ve known him since he was eight.
“I’ve got that relationship with him where I thought: ‘I hope the lad’s alright.’
“But so many people who know Joe believe in him. So I knew he’d be fine. I knew that he’d find a club where he’d settle again.
That’s because he’ll always give himself the opportunity to prove people wrong. He loves doing that and he’s always done it.
“When he was on the bench at Shrewsbury aged just 15, players would be asking: ‘Who’s this lad?’
“But the next day, he’d prove to them in training what he was about.
“Kevin Radcliffe was our manager back then and didn’t really know who Joe was.
“But he trusted me to allow Joe to train with them.
“I knew once he’d seen his character and his ability, he’d know all about him.
“He proved himself at Shrewsbury, at Manchester City, with England and now at Celtic.”
Timmins worked with two top-quality young keepers 20 years ago – Hart and current Wales international Wayne Hennessey.
While one of them was being looked after by his club, Wolves, the other was getting down and dirty in lower-league football.
Hart eventually left Shrewsbury in 2006 for the Etihad, where he’d go on to win Premier League titles and become England’s No.1.
But his first keeper coach says that upbringing at Gay Meadow was the making of him.
He said: “Shrewsbury had no money and horrendous training facilities at the time.
“You had to be a character to drive yourself through the system. Joe did that.
“He used to come in during every school holiday to train and work with men.
“And the first-team lads loved him because he’d throw himself around making saves. They were actually driven by Joe’s enthusiasm. At 14 years of age, myself and the staff knew he would make a living out of the game and play for Shrewsbury Town.
“Joe never had top facilities or luxuries as a kid. He was training and playing on poor pitches.
“He was on a muddy park pitch most of the time. We had to set up our own lights if we were doing things at night.
“At the same time, I was working with Wayne as well but he was signed with Wolves.
“So he had brilliant facilities to work with.
“They both ended up as top goalkeepers but Joe had the rougher start to his career.
“What that gave him was the drive to succeed and a real steely character.
“He was never going to get beat. He was like that in training and games. And his attitude was that life was never going to beat him either. Whatever was thrown at him, he’d deal with it.
“He’s shown that by coming through a difficult spell to do what he has done at Celtic.”
Hart is now a fans’ favourite at Parkhead and was pivotal in the Hoops’ charge towards a Premiership and League Cup double in his first season.
Timmins says that was always going to be the case when he felt wanted again.
He said: “As soon as Joe got that love again– and he’s now got it at a massive club in Celtic – I knew he’d excel.
“It doesn’t surprise me. That’s his strength of character.
“It would have been easy for Joe to let his career fizzle out. He’s probably made enough money out of the game. But that’s just not Joe.”
