Kyle Vassell talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Starting a new job in any environment can be a daunting prospect, with the task of meeting and getting to know new colleagues and make new friends, but new beginnings at Rotherham United for Kyle Vassell may be a little easier with a number of familiar faces already in the ranks.
The 25-year-old attacker explained that he is relishing the opportunity to improve with his new club under boss Paul Warne, where he joins a teammate of last season in the form of defender Clark Robertson who also joined the Millers on Friday.
However, Vassell will also be reunited with former Peterborough United teammates Joe Newell and Jon Taylor, who he admits helped to convince him that his move to the club was right after being talked into phoning them by his new boss Warne.
“The manager made me!” Vassell joked.
“He said that because he'd done his research on me, he wanted me to do my research as well, so I did.
“I had long conversations with both of them and they both just said you're going to love it here, so that definitely persuaded me.
“I know them from Peterborough, they're great lads and I'm looking forward to it.”
Vassell, who nearly became a Rotherham United player before when trialling with the club in his youth, expressed his delight at the opportunity to prove himself in the Championship, having worked hard to forge a career in the game with some impressive stints in the non-league.
“I'm delighted to be here, it's a great club and a great opportunity,” he added.
“I came on trial years and years ago now under Andy Scott who had me at Brentford. I was unsuccessful, I played a game up in Gateshead I think it was and that's how I worked my way into non-league after that.
“I've never played in the Championship and it's always been one of my goals, so to have the opportunity to do so is massive for me and I'm very grateful.
“It's tough and if you get to non-league you had to have had setbacks to get there. Most boys come from pro clubs and get released and have to work their way back up. It's tough but if you stick at it and work hard then things like this can happen.”
The Milton Keynes-born forward continued to explain that fellow Friday signing Robertson was unaware that he would be in good company in putting pen-to-paper with the Millers, but a morning meeting in a hotel foyer revealed the truth to his former Blackpool teammate.
“I saw him [Robertson] at the hotel before we came down here and he was buzzing because I'd kept it quiet, so maybe I was a bit horrible to him!” Vassell continued.
“We've been good pals at Blackpool for the last few years as well and he's another great lad, so the fact that the gaffer is signing other players like that I know what he wants and it's going to be a great changing room.”