When Antoine Semenyo completed his move to Bournemouth, he sent a bottle of Champagne to David Hockaday — the former Leeds United manager who, more than anyone else, set him on the path to professional football. The label carried two words: hunger and belief. Those words, instilled by Hockaday during the lowest point of Semenyo's teenage years, have become the foundation of a career that now takes the 26-year-old to a World Cup match against England.

A childhood shaped by football

Semenyo was born in London to Ghanaian parents Larry and Dela, and grew up in Greenwich alongside his brother Jai. Their father Larry, who played in Ghana's top flight alongside Tony Yeboah, urged both sons from an early age to kick anything they could find — paper, cans — with both feet. By the age of 6, Semenyo's two-footedness had become second nature.

His ability was recognised early. His parents arranged trials at Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Millwall before an eight-week trial at Crystal Palace at the age of 15. None of them led anywhere. At 16, Semenyo was deflated and ready to abandon the sport entirely.

The man who refused to give up on him

A trial session at Bisham Abbey changed everything. Semenyo attended largely to gauge his own fitness, without expecting much. By chance, Hockaday — who had previously managed Forest Green Rovers — was present and was asked to assist with the session.

What he saw made an impression he could not shake.