From Bay to the City

Former Herne Bay star makes his League One debut


This time last season Sam McCallum had yet to make a start for Herne Bay in the Bostik League Division One South, with just two substitute appearances under his belt. On Saturday in a spectacular rise to fame he was in the starting line-up for League One Coventry City in their match against AFC Wimbledon, playing until the closing stages before being substituted in the 90th minute.

McCallum had come through the Herne Bay Youth ranks before joining Herne Bay FC Under 16s in the summer of 2016. He made his first start for Herne Bay first team on 17/02/2018 and scored his first goal two months later. In the meantime, he was representing both Kent Schoolboys and England Schoolboys. He had been at Gillingham’s Centre of Excellence but after leaving the Gills’ he was almost resigned to a future as a semi-professional at non-league level.

But then McCallum was invited up to the Jamie Vardy V9 Academy in June, playing at the Etihad campus in Manchester for the week. Spotted by Coventry City’s head of recruitment, 18-year-old McCallum was snapped up in the summer destined to play for the Sky Blues Under-23. “We are pleased for him,” said Herne Bay joint-manager Jermaine Darlington, “When I first came to the club, I noticed that he was ahead of a lot of the kids the same age as him. He was composed at the level he was playing for us at his age. In his own age group, it all looked a bit easy and he looked comfortable. He has a great touch and great awareness.”

Remarkably he made his debut for the Sky Blues first team in the Checkatrade Trophy in November, going on in the 55th minute and making an immediate impact, winning him praise from manager Mark Robins: “I thought Sam McCallum was magnificent when he came on and I was delighted with his contribution. I thought he was outstanding, absolutely outstanding.” He then made his Football League debut at the end of December as an 81st minute substitute at home to Southend United.

McCallum said: “I’m a little bit surprised how quickly it has come because this time last year I was only playing non-league and I didn’t really have much hope, but I stuck at it.”

It just goes to show that with hard work and commitment, along with talent, dreams can come true.

Words and image courtesy of Steve Barton

Where next?

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