Dion Sembie-Ferris

Dion Leonard Sembie-Ferris (born 23 May 1996) is an English footballer who plays for Southern League Pemier Central side Peterborough Sports, where he plays as a winger.

Dion Sembie-Ferris
Personal information
Full name Dion Leonard Sembie-Ferris[1]
Date of birth (1996-05-23) 23 May 1996[2]
Place of birth Peterborough, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Peterborough Sports
Youth career
2005–2008 Peterborough United
2008–0000 Netherton Vultures
0000–2013 Tresham Academy
2013 St Neots Town
2013–2015 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 St Neots Town 4 (0)
2013–2017 Colchester United 25 (0)
2016 → Margate (loan) 5 (0)
2016–2017 → Concord Rangers (loan) 20 (4)
2017–2018 St Neots Town 57 (9)
2018– Peterborough Sports 56 (39)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Sembie-Ferris began his footballing career with Peterborough United at the age of nine, but was released in 2008, moving to Peterborough Junior Alliance side Netherton Vultures. He later joined St Neots Town, where he broke into the first-team at the age of 17. After impressing Colchester United scouts, he made a move to the League One club's Academy in November 2013. He made his professional debut for Colchester in January 2015, and later had a loan spells with National League South sides Margate and Concord Rangers. He was released by Colchester in August 2017 and made a return to St Neots the same month.

Career

Early career

Born in Peterborough, Sembie-Ferris attended Bushfield School in his hometown, while on the books at Peterborough United between the ages of nine and twelve. He was released by Peterborough in 2008, joining Netherton United junior side Netherton Vultures in the Peterborough Junior Alliance. Sembie-Ferris was a member of the under-14s side that won the 2010 ET Sports 'Team of the Year' award.[4] He continued his football education at the Tresham Academy, where he helped the under-21 team to the Central Conference reserve league title in 2013.[5]

After graduating from the Academy, Sembie-Ferris joined Southern League Premier Division side St Neots Town to continue his development. During his brief stay with the club, he had a trial with West Ham United,[4] and made his debut for St Neots in the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup final on 3 May 2013, a game which his side won against Huntingdon Town after a penalty shoot-out.[6] He made four appearances in the Southern League during the early stages of the 2013–14 season.[7]

Colchester United

After a six-week trial with League One side Colchester United's Academy, Sembie-Ferris was offered a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season with a view to earning a Professional Development contract after impressing academy manager Tony Humes.[8] During his first season with Colchester, Sembie-Ferris helped the Colchester under-18 side to a Youth Alliance South East league title and Youth Alliance Cup double, playing 78 minutes in the final on 29 April 2014, as the U's beat Bradford City 4–2 at Valley Parade.[9]

2014–15 season

Now first-team manager, Tony Humes had been impressed by Sembie-Ferris' performances at under-21 level. Humes selected Sembie-Ferris to travel with the first-team for Colchester's League One game against Crewe Alexandra on 27 September, although he was an unused substitute.[10]

Sembie-Ferris made his first-team debut for Colchester on 2 January 2015, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Elliott Hewitt in their 3–1 FA Cup third round defeat to Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium.[11] Following his debut, Sembie-Ferris set his sights on making a league debut, saying that it was a "great feeling" to make his professional bow, and that his aim was to "get an appearance in the league and hopefully push on from there".[12] The fixture that followed Colchester's FA Cup tie was a league match at his former and hometown club, Peterborough United, on 10 January. Sembie-Ferris stated that he was "desperate to play at London Road.[4] Despite missing the 2–0 win, Sembie-Ferris made his league and home debut in the following game, again replacing Elliott Hewitt after 79 minutes of Colchester's 2–0 defeat to Walsall on 17 January.[13] He made his first start for the club in their 2–0 home win over Yeovil Town on 17 March, playing 71 minutes before being substituted for Gavin Massey.[14]

Utilised mainly as a late substitute by Tony Humes, Sembie-Ferris put this to good effect on 25 April in Colchester's game away to Fleetwood Town. He came off the bench in the 73rd minute to replace Alex Gilbey, and won his side a penalty in the 87th minute, which was duly converted by Chris Porter to win the game 3–2 and turn around a 2–1 deficit. Humes praised Sembie-Ferris' impact, hailing him as an "exciting prospect".[15] After ending the season with eleven appearances in all competitions in the 2014–15 season, Sembie-Ferris signed a new three-year contract with Colchester on 15 May 2015.[16]

2015–16 season and Margate loan

After making a handful of appearances for Colchester in the early stages of the 2015–16 season and none since new manager Kevin Keen arrived in December 2015, Sembie-Ferris was allowed to leave the club on loan. He joined National League South side Margate on 24 March 2016 until the end of the season.[17] He made his debut in Margate's 4–1 defeat at Wealdstone on 26 March, playing the full 90-minutes. He went on to make five appearances for the club.[18]

He made ten first-team appearances for Colchester over the course of the campaign.[19]

2016–17 season and Concord Rangers loan

Sembie-Ferris scored his first goal for Colchester on 4 October 2016 in their 2–1 EFL Trophy defeat to Southampton U23 at the Colchester Community Stadium.[20]

In December 2016, Sembie-Ferris was again allowed to leave the club on loan, joining National League South side Concord Rangers for one month.[21] He made his debut as a substitute on 26 December in Concord's 1–1 home draw with East Thurrock United.[22] He scored twice against St Albans City on 28 January 2017, his second a 91st-minute winner with Concord recording a 3–2 victory.[23][24] On 24 February, Sembie-Ferris' loan at Concord was extended until the end of the season.[25] He made 20 appearances for the Beach Boys during his loan spell scoring four goals.[18]

He scored one goal in ten first-team appearances for Colchester across the campaign.[26] He was released from his contract by mutual consent in August 2017.[27]

Return to St Neots Town

In August 2017, Sembie-Ferris made a return to his former club St Neots Town, saying that he had "unfinished business" at the club.[28]

Peterborough Sports

Following financial issues at St Neots Town, Dion signed for Southern League Division One Central side Peterborough Sports in November 2018.[29]

Career statistics
As of match played 29 April 2017
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Neots Town 2013–14[7] Southern League Premier Division 4000––40
Colchester United 2013–14[30] League One 0000000000
2014–15[31] League One 100100000110
2015–16[19] League One 8000101[lower-alpha 1]0100
2016–17[26] League Two 7000002[lower-alpha 2]191
2017–18[32] League Two 0000000000
Total 250101031301
Margate (loan) 2015–16[18] National League South 50––0050
Concord Rangers (loan) 2016–17[18] National League South 204–––204
Career total 544101031595
  1. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours
St Neots Town
Colchester United U18

References
  1. "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 43. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  2. Dion Sembie-Ferris at Soccerbase
  3. "Colchester United". FootballSquads. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  4. Swann, Alan (8 January 2015). "Boy from the Boro could haunt Posh". Peterborough Evening Telegraph. Peterborough. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  5. "U21 Team Claim League Title with 1–1 Draw at Burton Albion". Tresham College of Further and Higher Education. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  6. Hughes, Richard (4 May 2013). "St Neots Town beat Huntingdon Town in the Hunts Senior Cup final with Adrian Sear the penalty shoot-out hero". The Hunts Post. Huntingdon. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  7. "Dion Sembie-Ferris joins Colchester". Cambridge News. Milton. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. Hudson, Matt (26 November 2013). "Sembie-Ferris Joins U18s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  9. Marston, Carl (30 April 2014). "League-Cup double for super Colchester United Under-18s". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  10. Waldron, Jonathan (30 September 2014). "U's starlet Sembie-Ferris deserved his call-up". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  11. Pritchard, Dafydd (2 January 2015). "Cardiff 3–1 Colchester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  12. Waldron, Jonathan (7 January 2015). "Sembie-Ferris sets sights on league bow after U's debut". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  13. "Colchester 0–2 Walsall". BBC Sport. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  14. "Colchester 2–0 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  15. Marston, Carl (29 April 2015). "Dion Sembie Ferris is hailed as an "exciting prospect" at Colchester United". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  16. Gregory, David (15 May 2015). "Dion Pens New Deal". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  17. Stokes, Mark (24 March 2016). "Margate sign Dion Sembie-Ferris on loan from Colchester United as striker Freddie Ladapo continues talks with Crystal Palace". Kent Online. Rochester. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  18. "Matches of D. Sembie-Ferris". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  19. "Games played by Dion Sembie-Ferris in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  20. "Colchester United 1–2 Southampton U23". Sky Sports. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  21. "Winger Loaned to Beachboys". The National League. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  22. "Concord Rangers vs East Thurrock United". Concord Rangers FC. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  23. "Concord Rangers vs St Albans City". Concord Rangers FC. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  24. "Concord Rangers vs. St Albans City 3–2". Soccerway. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  25. Hudson, Matt (24 February 2017). "Dion Extends Loan". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  26. "Games played by Dion Sembie-Ferris in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  27. Waldron, Jonathan (15 August 2017). "Winger Dion Sembie-Ferris has parted company with Colchester United by mutual consent". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  28. Plummer, Mark (23 August 2017). "St Neots is the perfect place for Sembie-Ferris". The Hunts Post. Huntingdon. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  29. Dion Sembie-Ferris‚ pslfc.com, 1 November 2018
  30. "Games played by Dion Sembie-Ferris in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  31. "Games played by Dion Sembie-Ferris in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  32. "Games played by Dion Sembie-Ferris in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  33. "Newsletter 34" (PDF). The Football League. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
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