He may have rubbed shoulders with Chelsea stars in the past but Arbroath new boy Daniel Fosu is enjoying life away from the hustle and bustle of down south.
The 23-year-old feels he has settled in nicely on the Angus coast as he embarks on his first spell as a professional footballer.
Fosu put pen to paper on a short-term deal in July. So far, he has featured in all four of the Lichties’ Championship clashes, even though he has played out of position in a centre forward role.
The attacking midfielder joined Dick Campbell’s side after impressing at Thatcham Town as well as few other English non-league sides.
Chelsea trial
It could have all been different for Fosu though, after catching the attention of Chelsea as a school boy.
The Arbroath new boy attended the trial sessions alongside current England star Mason Mount.
In the end, it wasn’t to be for Fosu, who shared his unforgettable experience on the official Arbroath podcast; Smokies & Wine.
“In the summer, they would always do local tournaments, little five-a-sides,” he explained.
“I entered with a local team and a Chelsea scout was watching.
“He told my mum to get me to come down to Cobham (Chelsea’s training ground).
“My mum and dad support Chelsea so it was a big thing. I went down to Cobham and saw John Terry and Didier Drogba – it was a surreal experience.
“I was at Chelsea for about three months trialling.
“You could tell that the levels there are extremely high. I’m man enough to admit that I wasn’t ready for that level.”
Life in Arbroath
Fosu has since moved north of the border and is enjoying life in the Angus town with flatmate Deri Corfe.
The young Englishman is enjoying his new way of life – even if the climate is a bit different.
He says the locals have made him feel right at home.
“I’m settling in brilliantly,” Fosu explained.
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“Obviously, there is a difference in culture from moving down south.
“It’s definitely not warmer but the people around here are super friendly.
“They are way more friendly than the people back home, even down to helping me with simple stuff like the best shops to go to for groceries.
“I like it because it’s quieter here. You have the chance to focus on the most important things in life. I reckon this was a great move for me.”
Fosu also feels at home on the pitch with his new teammates helping hiom settle in.
He is full of praise for boss Dick Campbell and his twin brother Ian, too, and is looking forward to learning from them.
“At the start I could see the team was a unit,” Fosu said. “It’s probably one of the only teams I’ve been to where you are always going to get support and there is love around the changing room.
“That’s big for me because I thrive when I feel like I’m wanted.
“They made me feel wanted straight away.
“When I first came the accents were a bit difficult to understand. I kept asking them to repeat themselves.
“Dick and Ian are two brilliant coaches. They manage the team really well and I’m glad to be under their wing.”
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