MATTY Fryatt, for some time, had found himself among some illustrious company.
Names like Darren Pratley, Peter Whittingham, Bakary Sako, Michael Kightly, Ross McCormack and Charlie Austin all had something in common with Fryatt.
But not any longer.
The others remain firmly in the category of players Nottingham Forest have long pursued – but failed to capture.
But, nine years after they first targeted Fryatt as a signing, the Reds have finally got their man.
While numerous Forest managers were left frustrated in their pursuit of the former Walsall and Leicester striker, Stuart Pearce finally succeeded, when he persuaded the 28-year-old to reject the offer of a fresh contract at Hull City, to move to the City Ground.
And Fryatt admits he could not be happier to finally find himself a Forest player.
"It was about nine years ago that moving to Forest was first mentioned, I think, when Gary Megson was manager," said Fryatt. "So it has been a long time coming!
"There have been a few Forest managers since (who have had an interest). It started when I was at Walsall, before I moved to Leicester.
"But I am glad it has finally happened and I am here now."
Fryatt played a key role in the Tigers' journey to the FA Cup final last season and secured a place in the starting line-up as Steve Bruce's side gave Arsenal a scare, before eventually slipping to a dramatic defeat at Wembley.
But the frontman struggled to pin down a regular spot in the club's Premier League side, making ten sub appearances but not starting a single game.
"It was not massively a big decision (to leave Hull), not really," said Fryatt.
"I was not playing all the time and I would like to think I could have been given more of an opportunity.
"I had some successful seasons at Hull. But this is a new challenge for me now. Having spoken to the manager here and the owners, it was an easy decision for me.
"Hopefully we can get up to the Premier League."
Fryatt says that regular football was not the lure that brought him to the City Ground – because he knows he must fight for his place here too, despite dropping down into the Championship.
"It wasn't even that, no. I was not guaranteed a place at Hull, but I won't be at Forest either. It does not work like that in football now," he said. "You have to deserve your place. You would hope that I would get more games here, but nothing is guaranteed.
"I hope I will be involved more here, we will have to see. If I give it my all, if I do as well as I hope I can do, then I hope I will be involved in a lot more games."
Fryatt revealed that a chat with Stuart Pearce had been a significant factor.
The new Reds boss said in an interview that he believes the striker's best days are still to come. And Fryatt revealed that Pearce had said the same thing to him, during their discussions.
"I may be 28, but I don't think I have finished yet, no!" he joked. "When we spoke before I came here, he was talking about how he felt his best stuff came later on in his career.
"The manager was a big factor in me coming here. And, when you look at it, it is also a really good squad."
The goal, as ever, for Forest, is promotion.
Fryatt knows as well as anyone how tough it is to secure a top-six finish in the Championship, having been part of promotion challenges with Leicester and Hull.
And he believes finding the most elusive quality of all, consistency, will be the decisive factor in their fate.
"We will have our own targets but what will be seen as a success from the fans and the owner will be promotion," he said. "It is easy to say that. It is easy to say that we want promotion. Ten or 15 teams will all say the same thing.
"With the players we have in there – and the manager might add one or two, that is up to him – we should be around the top end of the table.
"But it is difficult, because the games come so thick and fast, you have to be so consistent and keep yourself on a good run.
"Everyone knows how demanding the Championship is. But with the players in there, we will have a good chance."
After a nine year wait to land Fryatt, Forest will hope the striker has a big role to play.
