'세메뇨의 여정에 함께할 수 있었다는 사실이 정말 자랑스럽습니다.'

When Antoine Semenyo signed for Bournemouth, he sent former Leeds United manager David Hockaday a bottle of champagne.

Hockaday was at Bisham Abbey when a 16-year-old Semenyo attended a trial to test his fitness against other hopefuls. He helped with some drills before observing a series of matches and was "surprised" when the teenager's name did not come up after.

Hocakday recalled: "He didn't rip it up, didn't look anything particular, but he had moments and I believe that's what these trials are all about. I just saw a young lad who could deal with the football with both feet - inside, outside - without even thinking about it."

The itch needed to be scratched. Hockaday doesn't recall how, but in the weeks following he tracked down Semenyo's parents, explained to them who he was and said he'd like to help their son.

Hockaday brought Semenyo into his team at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, who competed in the South West Counties League.

To ensure he could get to games, Hockaday would pick Semenyo up from Swindon - where he was living in digs with other professional football hopefuls - on a Saturday morning at 5am and drive him to matches.

Semenyo's £65m move to Manchester City in January marked the peak of his journey up the football leagues. A move that even Hockaday did not see coming.

Semenyo scored 11 goals and recorded three assists for City before heading to the World Cup with Ghana. He ended the domestic season as an FA Cup hero, scoring the winning goal against Chelsea in the final at Wembley.

"When I see this young lad and I see what he's created, where he's got to and where he's going to now it's a bit mind-blowing for me," said Hockaday, who describes Semenyo as still "humble" and "one of the good guys" despite his meteoric rise.

"After rejections I would say to Antoine 'don't prove them wrong, prove you right, prove me right'. All he was doing was proving himself right.

"I kept in touch with him and usually at the end of every season we'll meet up for a few hours and have a chat and discuss things on and off the field. If there's anything he's not sure about he knows he can call me and he does.

"I just feel pride being able to say that I've been part of his journey."

Read more about Semenyo's story from non-league to the World Cup here.