UNTIL recently, smiles in the Arter family had been in short supply. Tears, however, had submerged them.

Having been immersed in heartbreak, mourning and grieving, Cherries midfielder Harry Arter is slowly beginning to focus on the future.

Not that he will ever forget the past having lost daughter Renee and grandparents Dennis and Edna in the space of 16 months.

Renee was stillborn in December 2015, while Dennis passed away 12 months ago and Edna in April, both parents to Harry’s dad Terry, a London taxi driver.

Between the grief and devastation of bereavement came the blessing of birth when Arter and partner Rachel welcomed Renee’s sister Raine into the world in February.

When Arter’s father Terry arrives in his black cab at Vitality Stadium for the visit of Watford tomorrow, his son is determined to give him something to help lift his spirits.

“My dad has been really looking forward to the first home game of the season,” said Arter. “He has always been very passionate about my football and loves coming to watch me.

“Hopefully, I can put a smile on his face because it has been a really difficult year for him. He doesn’t have any brothers or sisters and it has been hard for me to support him.

“I was struggling myself after we lost Renee and haven’t been there as much as I would have liked but the rest of my family have.

“The older I have got, the more I have realised just how much of a help all my family have been.

“When I look back at being released by Charlton and dropping down to Conference South, my dad watched me all over the country.

“That was probably the most difficult time of my football career but he always gave me the belief that I was too good for that level.

“All of my family have been very supportive. I am not saying I might not be where I am without them but I am so thankful to them.”

Together with dad Terry, the Arter clan – mum Linda, brothers Dan, Benji and Paddy and sister Carly, who is married to former England star Scott Parker – have helped Harry through his darkest hours.

“There was a period at the start of last season where I was finding things very difficult to deal with,” he said.

“Losing my granddad so soon after Renee was tough. Before Renee, we had never grieved as a family.

“There was a build-up of things. On the football side, there was injury and missing out on going to the Euros with the Republic of Ireland. A lot of things were starting to rankle.

“Thankfully, I spoke to Scott who had lost his dad the day before a game. It was good to speak to someone who had been though something similar.

“It was a period of my life I will look back on and never get over. It is a case of trying to be able to deal with it in a more positive way and, thankfully, I am now in that position.”

Arter, named this week in the Republic squad for two World Cup qualifiers next month, says he is loving every minute of fatherhood: “I am really enjoying it. Everyone says the first six months are the most difficult and we have passed that now.

“I get home from training and games and see her smile. Her personality is forming as well which is lovely to see. I have really embraced it.

“Rachel is doing an unbelievable job and I have to give her all the credit for doing the night duties and all the hard work.

“I come home, Raine has been fed and we have a play. I really appreciate what Rachel has done.

“Having a child makes you grow up and see life in a totally different way. Everything I am working for now is purely about trying to give her the best childhood and adulthood I can.

“Things like signing a new contract take on a new meaning. It was something I wanted to achieve to put myself in a better position for my life and for Raine and Rachel. What you work for and how hard you work changes because you want to give your family a better life.

“I have new goals now. I want to try to progress and make things even better. Raine and my family are now my drive.”