Even the most ardent fan of Rotherham United would probably admit that ditching Norwich City and Premier League prospects for a Championship relegation battle represents a major fall from grace.
But is Jordan Hugill bothered? Absolutely not. The 30-year-old striker joined the Millers last week, ending a three-year stint at Carrow Road that yielded just four goals and 38 appearances.
Prior to that, he'd spent two equally fruitless years with West Ham, turning out for a grand total of 22 minutes.
It's enough to make anyone feel dejected, but Hugill is blessed with a keen sense of perspective.
A decade ago, he was pulling pints in a Middlesbrough pub, dreaming of little more than making the starting XI for Marske United. In 2015, he was battling (successfully) to keep Hartlepool in the EFL.
He's a man who has seen football from every angle, part-time to Premier League, and is so clearly elated to be a professional that the slings and arrows of the game bounce harmlessly off a tungsten-tough exterior.
“Someone like me, there's no way I should have been in the Premier League,” says Hugill, whose long list of former clubs include Whitby Town, Gateshead, Port Vale and Preston.
“To be brutally honest, I wasn't expecting to play one year of professional football, never mind coming up ten.
“I was a part-time player, mixing cocktails in the pub, getting rejected here, there and e v e r ywhere. If you'd told me then that I'd be playing for Rotherham today, I'd have thought you'd lost your mind.
“I'm appreciative of every moment that I get, but I'd also like to think I've earned every moment that I've had.”
Prolific
Hugill's big break came in the 2016-17 campaign when he scored 12 goals in 44 Championship games for a Preston side that spent much of the season in play-off contention. A similarly prolific start to the subsequent campaign persuaded West Ham to launch a £10m bid and so it was that Hugill became the second signing of the David Moyes era.
It was an era spent largely on loan, and while a £5m switch to Norwich in 2020 appeared to offer a fresh start, it actually preceded more of the same.
Ditched from last year's Premier League squad and restricted to just seven sub appearances this term, he jumped at the chance to sign a three-and-a-half year deal with Rotherham.
Reflecting on his time at Norwich, Hugill's positivity briefly ebbs.
“Listen, I'd never let it show in the dressing room, but it killed me sticking around at Norwich these last six months,” admits the Teessider, who found last year's loan spells at West Brom and Cardiff severely disruptive to family life.
“I've got a young family, my daughter's only three months old. I've had a lot of other stuff going on and it was difficult.
“I've been at a low point in my career and I've had to drag myself up of the floor a number of times this year.
“But like I always say, there are people who have things a lot worse in the world. I've got no hard feelings, no regrets about anything that's happened.
Influence
Daniel Farke, the former Norwich boss, said in 2021 that Hugill's dressing room influence and professionalism was one of the main reasons the Canaries were promoted, despite the striker's lack of minutes.
“I think that's why I can come away from what's gone on and say I've given everything for those clubs,” nods Hugill. “And I'd like to think the fans' reaction – especially after leaving Norwich – confirms that.
“Sometimes things just happen that are out of your control. If I'm grafting and not getting a chance, that's nothing to do with me. That's the manager's opinion. I can't moan about it. I can't change it. I can only shake hands, move on and be thankful to Rotherham for the chance I've been given.”
“If I'm not playing and we win, then as much as I'd like to be on the pitch, that helps everybody. There's no point sitting and moaning, or showing everyone you're upset about not playing.
“As a footballer, you obviously want to play. But to be part of a winning dressing room – and this is why I believe we did so well – means that everybody pushes each other all the time. Yeah, Teemu Pukki was playing that year and deservedly got all the plaudits. But I was behind the scenes, pushing him all the time, so that if he made a mistake then I'd be ready to take his place. Unfortunately for me, he didn't make any mistakes – he's very, very good!
Pushing
“But like I say, I can't argue with that. I might not have played as much as I wanted but I always tried to earn every minute I had – and I tried to make my rivals earn every minute they had as well.”
Ultimately, though, Hugill was not willing to simply be a cheerleader or a motivator, especially having turned 30 in June.
“I keep talking to people and they're all going ‘Ooh, when you turn 30, there's not many years left',” he laughs. “I'm thinking ‘Well, I only started at 21 so I bloody hope there is!'.
“It might sound strange but 30 to me is still young. And if I'm not striving for more, what am I doing?
“I hate standing still, and I think you can tell that by my CV.
“Yes, I've had a lot of clubs. But that's because I'm not happy being told ‘Oh, you're not going to play but you can stick around because you're a great pro'.
“It's nice to hear, but playing football is what makes you happy. When you're playing football, nothing else really matters. Marske, Norwich, Rotherham – it doesn't matter.
“If you're out there and you're enjoying yourself, that's the best feeling in the world.
“Hopefully that will be transmitted to the fans here.
“Because I'm looking forward to more playing time, I'm looking forward to pushing this club forward and I just want to enjoy every day”.
