Special Feature: Blacktown boy at heart looks ahead

As an avid Manchester United follower that would obviously be the dream destination yet when posed with the option of United or Australia he chooses the latter.
?I spent two years at Sydney FC, mostly in the youth team but managed two A-League appearance and obviously I would like that experience again whether it?s with them or another A-League club and though to play for United at Old Trafford and to play for the team you follow would be unbelievable, I would have to say that given the choice of them or representing my country, Australia would be the highest accolade for me.?
Although sent-off in his second appearance for Sydney, many pundits say Cairncross did well although when that ended he returned to his home club.
?Yeah, I always felt I would come back to Blacktown City although it was a little bit sooner than I had hoped for but the experience I gained will no doubt stand me in good stead and helps me realise the pressures surrounding the players in the top Australian league.
?Like I said, I would love another crack at it and my best years are still ahead.?
With the A-League looking to expand into Western Sydney there is obvious speculation of whom they are looking at and where they will recruit from so inevitably talk turns to that.
?I don?t know what will happen when the new Western Sydney club enters the competition as it?s still early days for them of course and I know there are plenty of players, like myself, who would love to be involved from the start but to answer the question I have not heard anything from them.
?The area is right for the new club and everyone feels it will be exciting to have a side out here to follow and it would be fantastic if they can strike up a cross town rivalry with FC.?
Cairncross isn?t looking that far ahead for now as he concentrates on having a good season with Blacktown but ultimately the A-League is a calling he wants to answer and ideally play overseas at some point.
?They are the aim of everyone involved in the game at my age and to play in Asia or Europe would be the target but you have to keep your feet on the ground and take each step as it comes.
?I?ve had a small taste at the top table here and want more so to have a good season with Blacktown City and push myself harder each day will hopefully allow me to follow that path in the not too distant future??
He has formed a good relationship with present coach Mark Crittenden with whom he has had as either Assistant or Head Coach for three-seasons.
?Mark is one of the good blokes in the game, I think all the guys have a great deal of respect for him and know what he will and won?t accept but he is one of the lads.
?We know it?s going to be a long hard season and probably a really tight one this season and the boss knows how to handle the pressures and get us into the Top Five and from there who knows what we can achieve?
?We don?t look at the pundits predictions of being contenders instead preferring to take each game as it comes and see where that takes us.
?We?ve got a great, tight bunch of lads at the club and a fantastic team spirit and feel we can do well but we?ve been unlucky with the amount of red cards we?ve received so far this season which has disrupted the stability of the side with team selections and that has strengthened our resolve so who knows??
Cairncross isn?t the typical centre-back who hoofs the ball clear at the earliest opportunity.
?I like to try and play the ball out from the back and get up in support of attacks or from dead ball situations but sometimes you have to do what you have to do,? he laughs.
?I like to watch the EPL and other leagues and see how the centre-backs deal with situations, their positioning  and see if it?s possible to utilise some of their tricks and skills in to my game but you cannot truly model yourself on anyone in particular simply because you are not them or playing in that scenario.
?Everyone can improve their game and I am no exception so you are always working on this and that.?
The likeable lad has had to overcome no little adversity with losing his father five years ago when still in his formative years but mum, Jenny, is seen as not only his biggest fan but also one of the greatest influences on his career.
?Mum has been to just about every game I?ve played and when I was younger took me to every training session so I really owe her a lot.
?She is always there, comes to every game and to be honest, if it wasn?t for her I probably wouldn?t be where I am in football today so thanks mum.?
One thing that never ceases to amaze is a six-foot plus central defender who is absolutely no nonsense on the pitch, white line fever as it?s called!, is a really humble guy off it and there?s every possibility we will be seeing this lad plying his trade in the A-League sooner rather than later.
Let?s hope so.
-By Micky Brock