North harbour Stadium and the NZ Knights must have seemed a world away for a 20-year-old born and bred in Manchester, who all his life had lived and breathed football at United.
You get the feeling Ben Collett still feels a bit that way but is determined to make the
most of the chance handed him by Knights boss John Adshead.
"It came out of the blue," says Collett, who is settling in with the Hyundai A-League franchise. "I did not know anything about the league, I thought it was amateur.
"But when I found out it was professional, I thought, 'Why not?"'
Collett, who was signed by United as a 9-year-old and later completed apprentice forms, has been on the fringe at club ever since, more recently playing in the reserves.
But his worst fears were realised when, in March, he was told he would not be getting a new contract.
"When you sign as a pro with United you know it is one of the biggest clubs in the world. You also know just how hard it is to break into a club like that," Collett says.
"In the reserves there were a lot of players in my age group. I missed the boat. I was injured for a year which did not help."
English football is awash with players who do not have a club, and contracts are slim on the ground.
"I could have stayed around in England to see what I could get. But, by signing [with the Knights] I got rid of that uncertainty."
Now, with the chance to rebuild his career miles away from his "comfort zone", Collett is ready to give it his best shot.
"I'll give it my max and see where it takes me.
"I'm going to play to the best of my ability and maximise the opportunities I have been given."
He must have had something someone at Manchester United liked even as a 9-year-old when he turned up for training three times a week.
"You don't really understand what is going on at that age. But from the day you are there you learn the Manchester United way."
At 16, he signed apprentice forms and went on to play under-17, under-18 and under-19 for the club. At 18, he made the reserve squad.
Last season he played between 20-30 games in central midfield and also down the left.
Before he thinks too much about which position he would prefer with the Knights, he must first get to know his new team-mates.
"I don't know any of the players," he said. "But it is exciting. I'm very close to my family but they saw it as a great chance and encouraged me to come."
Small in stature, Collett will let his feet do the talking. Adshead has no doubt about that.
"From the little I have seen, he doesn't half look like a footballer.
"Sure, he's no giant but we are not playing rugby league."
Adshead says he is pleased to get someone of Collett's ability.
"We are happy to have him here. The next two years are going to be very important for him."
Adshead says without knowing it, he has watched Collett in action while living in Oman.
"We used to see a lot of European football on television and I watched United win the Youth Cup when he was playing. Funny how fate works out, isn't it?"
Ben Collett
Born: September 11, 1984
Where: Manchester
Club: Manchester United (reserves)
Position: Central or left midfield
Knights fixture list
August 28 v Queensland Roar (away) 5pm (NZ time)
September 2 v Sydney FC (home) 8pm
September 10 v Central Coast Mariners (away) 9.35pm
September 18 v Newcastle Jets (away) 7pm
September 22 v Perth Glory (home) 8pm
October 2 v Adelaide United (home) 6pm
October 10 v Melbourne Victory (away) 9pm
October 16 v Queensland Roar (home) 6pm
October 21 v Sydney FC (away) 10pm
October 29 v Central Coast Mariners (home) 8pm
November 4 v Newcastle Jets (home) 8pm
November 11 v Perth Glory (away) 11pm
November 20 v Adelaide United (away) 7pm
November 26 v Melbourne Victory (home) 8pm
December 1 v Queensland Roar (away) 10pm
December 30 v Sydney FC (home) 8pm
January 8 v Central Coast Mariners (away) 7pm
January 13 v Newcastle Jets (away) 10pm
January 19 v Perth Glory (home) 8pm
January 28 v Adelaide United (home) 8pm
February 4 v Melbourne Victory (away) 8pm
Soccer: Big chance for ex-Red Devil
Ben Collett at training held at North Harbour Stadium. Picture / Dean Purcell
North harbour Stadium and the NZ Knights must have seemed a world away for a 20-year-old born and bred in Manchester, who all his life had lived and breathed football at United.
You get the feeling Ben Collett still feels a bit that way but is determined to make the
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