KALLUM Griffiths’ breakthrough into full-time football might have come as a surprise at 28, but York City’s new right back wants to carry on in the professional game for another decade.

The former Sunderland academy player and Bradford City youth-team defender has spent the last nine years working his way up the non-League football pyramid with Spennymoor, whom he helped win the Northern League first division title four times on the trot before enjoying back-to-back promotions in the Evo-Stik League.

Griffiths was also a mainstay as The Brewery Field outfit surprised many by finishing eighth – one place outside the play-offs – during their maiden campaign of National League North football.

On starting life as a professional at an age when many of his contemporaries are beginning to contemplate their next career move, Griffiths said: “(City boss) Martin (Gray) gave me a ring and asked if I would be interested in going full-time, which is totally different to what I’ve been doing, but I thought it would be a new challenge and too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I’d been at Spennymoor for nine years, which is a bit like being part of a family, so it was a massive decision to leave them and I don’t think I would have done if it had been anybody else other than York City with the chance to go full-time. I’d also worked for five years in an electrical wholesalers but that wasn’t so hard to give up!

“To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about getting the chance to go full-time at all. I was enjoying my time at Spennymoor and we had a really good season but, when I heard of Martin’s interest, it pricked my ears up.

“It’s everybody’s dream to be a professional footballer as a kid and I feel I have to test myself to prove I can do it. I had a few setbacks when I was younger for whatever reasons and, in the end, I was just playing at Spennymoor for the enjoyment and banter.

“You always think there still might be a chance to go pro and, whilst you’re getting on a bit at 28, I believe I can still play for another ten years.”

One explanation for Griffiths’ struggles to land a deal in his teenage years could be the standard by which he was gauged at his first club, where the Stadium of Light ranks included one hopeful who was one of the leading lights during England’s march to the World Cup semi-finals this summer.

“I was at Sunderland from the age of eight to 16 and was in the same age group as Jordan Henderson, Martin Waghorn and Jack Colback, so it was a good age group and pretty hard to come through,” Griffiths reasoned. “Even at that age, Jordan Henderson was a top professional, who was the first one in the building and the last one out every day.

“He worked the hardest and deserves everything he’s getting now. He had a fantastic tournament and proved a lot of people wrong.”

Despite their greater resources, meanwhile, City only managed to complete two doubles last season – against Bradford Park Avenue and division whipping boys North Ferriby.

Some within Bootham Crescent ventured that such a record might be related to sixth-tier sides upping their performance levels against a former Football League outfit that have beaten the likes of both Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Tottenham in the past.

As an opposition player last term with Spennymoor, whose average attendance increased by 50 per cent last season but, at 843, was still less that a third of the Minstermen’s gate, Griffiths feels that argument does carry some weight.

“Teams at this level raise their games 100 per cent against York City,” he declared. “You only have to look at the history of the club and it’s a big scalp.

“Any team in this league or the one above relishes coming to a nice, big stadium with a good atmosphere and it works both ways because it’s good for other clubs’ home fans when a big club like York comes to town. You want to be tested at your own ground, where there’s a bit more of an advantage but, personally, I loved playing at Bootham Crescent on a big pitch and in front of a good fanbase.”

But nor will Griffiths be fazed after swapping underdog status for a favourites’ tag, insisting: “I go into every game trying to do my best and expectation, or who I’m playing for or against. doesn’t bother me.”

With his semi-professional background, however, the 2016/17 Evo-Stik League premier division team of the year full-back reckons City must capitalise on their full-time status more this term.

“Training full-time has to work in our favour,” he argued. “You’re in every day practicing your craft and doing something you love, so I can’t see why that wouldn’t be an advantage over other clubs.

Accustomed to success with his previous club, Griffiths also has his sights set on one goal in 2018/19, admitting: “The target has to be winning the league.

“The squad that has been put together this season is looking good and, if we don’t win the title, then we’ve got to at least go up through the play-offs, because it will be a massive disappointment for us as players and the fans otherwise.”