World Cup 2026: England vs Ghana – Antoine Semenyo

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

An unlikely duo? in case. But if anyone can take credit for Semenyo’s rise, it’s Hockaday.

Read the words “Hunger and Faith” on the label of the bottle.

As a teenager, the words that resonated with Semenyo at the biggest moment in his career up to that point, he felt the need to repeat them to the man who sent them to him.

Northyo’s journey to the top was complicated. Failed academy trials, 5am starts playing non-league football, thoughts of quitting the sport altogether.

But now, 26 years old, it all led to this. A match against England in the World Cup.

A humble, determined man, his amazing rise was based on perseverance and the faith of a few people who saw something in a down and out kid looking for his big break.

This is Semenyo’s story.

Born in London to Ghanaian parents Larry and Della, Semenyo and his brother Jay grew up in Greenwich with a ball permanently attached to their feet.

It should come as no surprise that the Northman, who played alongside Tony Yboah in Ghana’s top league, was encouraged by his father to kick “paper, cans, anything” with both feet from a young age, and is now adept with both his right and left feet.

It came naturally to Semenyo at the age of six – and the dream of becoming a professional footballer was born.

His talent was spotted by his parents and their encouragement sent him on trial at Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall before an eight-week trial at Crystal Palace at the age of 15.

None of these methods were successful.

At the age of 16, Semenyo was disillusioned, disillusioned and ready to give up football altogether.

Enter Hockaday.

The Northman headed to a trial session at Bisham Abbey, where he later went only to see how his fitness compared to other hopefuls. Little did he know that this particular experiment would change the course of his career.

“When I first met him he was gone,” Hockaday told BBC Sport.

“He looked lost. He said lost. There was a gap in his eyes. There was no faith. He was looking for someone to help him find himself.”

Coincidentally, former Forest Green Rovers boss Hockaday was at Bisham Abbey that day and when he arrived he was asked to help out with the challenge Semenyo was taking part in.

He helped out with some of the drills before watching the series and was surprised when the teenager’s name didn’t come up.

“He didn’t tear, he didn’t look different, but he had moments and I believe that this is what these tests are about. I saw a young boy playing football with both feet – inside, outside – without even thinking about it,” he said.

“He wasn’t in great physical shape, but he moved well. He had a good pair of shoulders and physically he looked like he would be a specimen in the right area.”

Hockaday thought he had seen the last of Semenyo. But something didn’t sit right.

I am good at spotting talent. “I explained to the family that Antoine had an itch I couldn’t get rid of.”

The itch needed to be scratched. Hockaday doesn’t remember how, but in the following weeks he tracked down Semenyo’s parents, explained his identity and said he wanted to help their son.

“We met and somehow they entrusted their son to me. And that’s when our relationship started.”