Former Rochdale defender Craig Dawson is determined to grab his chance at West Bromwich Albion.
The Albion new-boy is eying the chance of a lifetime to live his Premier League dream - and prove a point to his doubters into the bargain.
"I had trials as a midfielder when I was younger but I had a lot to learn at the time so I went back into defence to become a centre-half and started again," Dawson told the Express & Star.
"I went back into non-league football and playing against adults from an early age really helped me. When I was younger I was always a central midfielder but I always wanted to be a centre-half.
"That's where I wanted to play and I always filled in there whenever I could. I had a brief trial at Oldham when I was younger and I had a trial at Manchester City, and when I was very young - at under-8s - I was at Bury.
"They all said they had other options available to them at the time but I never gave up. I just wanted to prove a few people wrong. I had a few doubters at an early age but professional football is something I have always wanted to do and always worked hard at.
"Even now I am trying to work hard and try to push on as far as I can. I started off again at Radcliffe Borough, had a season there and managed to get a move to Rochdale and I had another good season there and managed to get a move to West Brom.
"I was 17 and 18 when I was at Radcliffe, 19 when I moved to Rochdale and 21 when I signed for West Brom."
