"There was no pressure - no catwalk to walk down when you entered the players lounge", Kate jokes.
 
"And even though on the whole my experience with WAGS in the Premiership was generally great - I did feel a bit inferior when Michael first signed with Newcastle United.
 
"I actually felt like I was being scrutinised from top to toe at my first game. There is of course none of that over here."
 
Michael agrees that even for him, as a footballer, there is less pressure to keep up appearances.
 
"It's refreshing because people like you for who are and not what you have," he says.
 
It's a good thing for Michael, who jokingly calls himself the worst dressed footballer in the game's history. In fact, he has even disturbingly admitted to wearing what is considered one of the greatest fashion faux pas; Triple Denim.
 
"We Pommies are known to love our denim so at one stage it was denim shoes, denim jeans, denim shirts," he reveals. (Seriously? Denim shoes??! - Ed)
 
"So I remember how good it was to see boys come to training in boardies and T-shirts."
 

And while the family has now come to think of Australia - and Newcastle - as their second home, it wasn't the easiest of transitions for Mrs Bridges.
 
"When Michael first got the opportunity to come on loan to play for Sydney FC, I had mixed emotions." Kate recalls.
 
"We had twin babies who weren't even one year old and just the thought of living 24 hours away from any family or help was difficult.
 
"But how can you say no to such an opportunity? It was another adventure for us."
 
And while the little family was put up in hotel-style accommodation in the middle of Darling Harbour, Kate really struggled with being on her own on the other side of the world.
 
"Darling Harbour is a gorgeous place to live." says Kate. "But it was a high rise, so of course balconies are out of bounds with newborn babies and everything was made of glass.
 
"That experience would have been magnificent for a young couple but with a small family it was difficult."
 
And Michael is well aware of the challenges Kate faced as a new mum on the other side of the world.
 
"Of course it's good fun for us footballers", Michael explains. "We get to go to training with the lads, attend events, dinners, away games.
 
"Kate was often alone at the apartment with our twin babies and it understandably got to her after a while."
 
The three month loan spell could not end soon enough for Kate with her deciding adamantly on the flight home that any future move would have to be within an hour's drive from their family in the UK.
 
"And look at us now," she laughs. "We have been here  years we are just finalising our citizenship.
 
"Australia is quite literally our second home."
 
Ironically enough, the couple admits had it not been for the less than perfect first move to Sydney, they may have not got the opportunity to live in Newcastle - a place where Michael has been embraced by the fans as one of their own.
 
"Kate was understandably hesitant to come the second time round, but when I got here I knew immediately it was going to be a different experience entirely," says Michael.
 
"I got on the phone to her and said the people are amazing, the town is beautiful, get on that plane ASAP."
 
Signing for the Newcastle Jets in 2009 proved to be a fruitful decision for the experienced striker both on and off the field. After being signed by Branko Culina for the 2009-10 season, he went from player to captain in less than a year. 
 
But it wasn't long before the fan favourite made a shock announcement following a knee injury.

 
"In April 2011 I announced my retirement from professional football," he recalls. "After receiving the injury I thought maybe my run was over and it was time to pursue other areas of football.
 
"And the club were amazing - they asked me to hang around and help out with the coaching and strikers as well as be involved in Corporate Hospitality.
 
"But it was during the periods of coaching when I was fitter than ever that I had this feeling of wanting to play again.
 
"And when Kasey Wehrman at the time suggested I give it another crack, I knew I had to - but didn't know how to go back on my word.
 
"All I knew was that I still had more to offer."
 
Continued on next page...