Ross County defender Callum Semple insists he had to abandon his dream of making the breakthrough at boyhood club Sheffield United in pursuit of first team football with the Staggies.
Semple joined County on an 18-month contract on Tuesday, in a deal which saw the Blades secure a significant sell on fee along with other clauses.
The move ends Semple’s 12-year association with the Bramall Lane outfit, but having got his first taste of senior football during a loan spell with Queen of the South earlier this season, the 20-year-old is eager to keep his momentum going with Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell’s men.
Semple said: “I’d been at Sheffield United since I was eight years old, they’re my hometown club.
“It is always difficult leaving, but for my career it is probably the best thing for me. I feel the time is right.
“It is quite difficult when you’ve always held that ambition to break into the Sheffield first team and make it at the club. I’m obviously moving away from home, which is different too.
“At Sheffield United, the opportunities are a lot slimmer, especially with playing in this league already. I have the experience to progress, I’ve played 27 games for Queen of the South and hopefully I can continue to play first team football. I think it will be a good experience and I’m looking forward to it.”
Although his loan with Queens had expired prior to the Doonhamers’ 4-0 victory over County at Palmerston earlier this month, Semple previously featured in two draws against the Staggies, with Gary Naysmith’s men remaining the only Championship side the Dingwall outfit have failed to defeat this season.
Semple hopes to use his knowledge of the league to help County in their bid for promotion this season, and he added: “I’ve played 18 or so league games and with just 10 teams in the division, you play against the same players and get to know them.
“Playing against County, I thought they were a very good side. They like being on the ball.
“At Queens, we played on the counter-attack and coming away from places like Dingwall we hadn’t had much of the ball.
“County seemed like a very good side – competitive – and hopefully we can win promotion this season.”
Semple insists his first impressions of Victoria Park quickly sold him on the move to the Highlands, adding: “When I spoke with both of the managers, it was clear the opportunity of playing first team football was there.
“This feels more like home, like Sheffield United as a club. It wasn’t a tough decision.
“The chairman showed me around the club and told me about his ambitions and I was sold, really.
“When I’d been here as an opposition player, I hadn’t seen half of what there is here. I didn’t know there was the training ground just behind the stadium. Everything is first class.”
