DEFENDER Conor McCormack joined Chippenham Town to escape the bubble of Bristol football.

The 19-year-old full-back (pictured) was signed by Bluebirds boss Mark Collier at the start of pre-season after spells at Clevedon Town, Yate Town and Hellenic League Winterbourne United last season.

McCormack came close to starting a career in Icelandic football with Throttur Reykjavik before u-turning on his plans to emigrate.

“I went over (to Iceland) to see what it was like because I didn’t want to go straight into it.

“I’ve got a job that I didn’t want to just give up without knowing what I was going in to – I didn’t fancy it to be honest,” he said.

“I’ve been playing locally in Bristol but I wanted to get away from the Bristol scene and the clubs around there.

“All I could do was impress in training and I must have done that because they signed me on. “It’s just a fresh start really, with people that don’t really know me. I want to make an impression and do as well as I can.

“I didn’t know anybody here when I came so all I can do is get my head down and concentrate on my football.’’

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