The documentary series features British expats who have swapped life in the UK for the Sunshine State.

Having once journeyed up and down Broadway, he now drives through Disneyland Orlando on the school run.

Tony Shard, 51, grew up on Middleton Road, attended Radclyffe School and also played for Oldham Athletic’s youth team back in the day.

After being offered a place on football summer school in California as a teen, which was followed by a soccer scholarship for a school in Orlando and a master’s in coaching in Louisiana, Mr Shard decided to make a life for himself stateside – and hasn’t been making the most of it ever since.

He told The Oldham Times in his Transatlantic Oldham accent: “Instead of playing in Moston, Blackley or Oldham Edge, I’m playing in Miami, Daytona, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale. I think that I basically took advantage of it.”

Mr Shard now runs two businesses, a travel agent and junk removal service, which he described as a “modern day version of Steptoe and Son”.

The entrepreneur has also delved into the content creator world, making YouTube videos with his 15-year-old son Keegan.

Their channel shows followers some of the more unique American experiences – whether that’s exploring the local theme parks, meeting WWE legend John Cena or watching Star Wars creator George Lucas speak for the first time at San Diego Comic Con.

Tony and Keegan meeting WWE legend John Cena (Image: Tony Shard)

For him, the YouTube channel is a way of connecting with his son, who has autism.

“I’ve always wanted to do stuff that was his passion – it’s just about a father and son having fun.

“Early on, I was told by an autism specialist: Don’t try to stop him from doing something. Get into his world, then you can bring him out.

“I try to follow my son’s passions and I get involved in it. And I do whatever I can to make his dreams come true,” he said, adding that he’s not much of a WWE follower himself, but is a huge Man City fan.

Their adventures at a theme park will likely feature in his episode of Channel 4’s Escape to Florida, which will air on Friday, May 15.

Mr Shard explains that the film crews spent four ten-hour days filming with them, but he will not know what made the cut until it’s released.

He said that he has plenty of family and friends back in Oldham who will be tuning in – especially his sister, who has even booked the day off work.

Despite spending decades stateside, Mr Shard makes regular trips back home and there are still some things he misses about his native Oldham.

He said: “The culture’s great [in Florida], the weather’s 90 degrees, we do a lot of different things, but you can’t replace the people.

“So they’re still a void there. They call it the ‘craic’, right? The sense of humour isn’t the same as it is in Oldham.”

Tony Shard at the Best of British pub in Orlando, which also features on the Escape to Florida show (Image: Tony Shard)

He often gets asked by friends in Oldham whether he would move back here. He said: “If the job was right, potentially.

“What everybody in England tells me: don’t ever do that. I don’t think England’s as bad as it’s made out to be. As for Oldham, I don’t think anywhere is as bad as it’s made out to be in the media. And nowhere is as good as it’s made out to be, either.”

All the episodes so far of Escape to Florida are available to view on Channel 4’s streaming service. Mr Shard’s episode will air at 4pm on May 15.

Mr Shard’s YouTube channel can be found by searching ‘Kickin It With Keegan’.