CALUM Hudson was working as a delivery driver last month but is delighted his protracted move into professional football with Barnsley has been concluded.

The 19-year-old centre-back came through at Scarborough Athletic, who loaned him out to fellow non-league clubs Tadcaster Albion and Guiseley, while he worked delivering parcels such as clothes and HelloFresh recipe boxes.

Barnsley signed him earlier this year and he gave up his job in June to become a professional footballer.

Hudson told the Chronicle: “It’s a big opportunity for me and my life is different now.

“In non-league, you work then train for an hour and a half twice a week.

“Now I am training for two hours every day then going in the gym. I have really enjoyed my first few weeks.

“It definitely toughens you up playing non-league which I have been doing since I was 16. That’s helped me and hopefully I can push on now.”

The move has been on the cards for much of the last year.

Hudson said: “I was at Tadcaster where Barnsley scouted me and I went on trial.

“They wanted me but there was stuff behind the scenes which couldn’t get sorted.

“I went to Guiseley on loan and performed well and Barnsley picked me up in the summer.

“I am with the 21s for now but I signed for Barnsley in the hope of getting into the first team.”

Hudson’s story is similar to that of Jack Shepherd who was a kitchen-fitter and non-league centre-back before joining Barnsley then playing regularly in their defence last season.

“I am hoping to follow in his footsteps. He’s been on the same sort of path and it would be great if I could match what he’s done so far in his career.”

Hudson has enjoyed working under first team head coach Daniel Stendel and believes he is a good fit for the German’s style of using a high defensive line.

“He’s been great so far. He makes it very clear what he wants. We do meetings before training, he knows exactly what he wants from each player in training.

“He’s a great manager.

“I am quite hungry, aggressive, like to press and tackle which is what he likes so hopefully it suits me.”

Hudson impressed as a substitute for the final half an hour of Barnsley’s 2-1 friendly loss at York City on Saturday.

“I really enjoyed it.

“I thought we did alright when we came on as 21s and we were unlucky not to score.

“I live in Malton, only about 20 minutes away, so I had family watching which was nice.”

Hudson could face his former club Scarborough on July 25 when Barnsley travel to the National League North club for another pre-season friendly.