From Concord Rangers away to international football: MATT BARLOW on the story that proves you should NEVER give up on your football dream

From Concord Rangers away to international football: MATT BARLOW on the story that proves you should NEVER give up on your football dream

The sight of Steve Evans on the prowl with something to get off his chest rarely bodes well. But when the Stevenage boss intercepted Jamie Reid on arrival at the training ground last week it was to tell his top scorer that the best season of his life was about to get better.

Northern Ireland have selected Reid up for upcoming friendlies in Romania and Scotland. A first senior call-up as recognition of exceptional form and 21 goals this season and the rise of Stevenage under Evans.

Also reward for the 29-year-old after years grafting through non-League to rebuild a career bedevilled in its early years by injuries and bad luck.

‘It’s crazy when I think of the time when we had our pre-match in a petrol station,’ he said on Sunday, as he prepared to report for international duty. ‘Or the time I went to Chester away in the kit van or when the minibus has broken and we had to drive to North Ferriby away.

‘I loved it all, and all these little things have been amazing to experience but in the space of five years, I’ve gone from playing away at Concord Rangers in the National League South to potentially pulling on an international shirt and playing against Scotland at Hampden Park.

Jamie Reid is enjoying a sensational season for League One surprise package Stevenage

Reid has netted 21 goals for the Boro and was rewarded with his first Northern Ireland call-up

Reid has netted 21 goals for the Boro and was rewarded with his first Northern Ireland call-up

The 29-year-old's (left) journey is inspirational and proof you should never give up. Reid was forced to drop down to Non-League with Torquay after injury struggles early on in his career

The 29-year-old’s (left) journey is inspirational and proof you should never give up. Reid was forced to drop down to Non-League with Torquay after injury struggles early on in his career

‘I’m excited and I’ll be immensely proud. I always believed I was good enough but I was never sure I’d get there, especially when you drop down it’s quite hard to come back up.’

Among the first to call with congratulations was Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins. They have been close friends since they were at school together at South Dartmoor Community College and came through the academy ranks at Exeter City. They have 45 goals between them this season, a magnificent haul that will not pass unnoticed in Devon.

Reid was 18 when bursting onto the scene with two goals on his full Exeter debut. Northern Ireland recognition quickly followed at U20 and U21 level before progress was stifled by 16 months out with injuries to his groins and abdominal ligaments.

There were loan moves either side of this to Dorchester, Truro, Weymouth and Torquay, his home-town club, a move he made permanent in 2018.

‘I had four seasons at Torquay,’ said Reid. ‘The first was my first season back and the club was in a tough place, changing managers, relegation, but I loved it and that’s where I grew up.’

Goals started to flow again once Gary Johnson took charge at Plainmoor, switching Reid from a wide position to one up front through the centre. He scored 32 as Torquay won promotion from National League South and had smashed through the 20-goal barrier again when the pandemic struck and curtailed the next campaign.

Reid’s contract was expiring and all but two of the EFL clubs who liked him cooled their interest because of sudden financial restrictions. It was a tough time to be a young footballer in the lower leagues.

Clubs cut risks with shorter contracts and Covid rules made integration difficult, with limits of three per changing area, no chance for social bonding and empty stadiums.

Reid moved to Mansfield for a season, which did not go as he envisaged, then on to Stevenage, which started badly. They were fighting relegation from the EFL when Evans was appointed two years ago.

Since then, they survived, won promotion and are eighth in League One, chasing a play-off spot despite Saturday’s defeat to Leyton Orient and Reid has blossomed.

‘As I’ve got older, I’ve realised I play my best football under a manager I’m a little bit afraid of,’ he smiled. ‘Steve will give you a rollicking but we’ve built a trust and I’ve been able to thrive. Everyone is on the same page with him. Everyone knows what they’re doing.

Reid has been the talisman for Steve Evans' side this season, and the striker - who joined Stevenage back in 2021 - admitted he thrives under a manager who he's 'a little bit afraid of'

Reid has been the talisman for Steve Evans’ side this season, and the striker – who joined Stevenage back in 2021 – admitted he thrives under a manager who he’s ‘a little bit afraid of’

Reid is a fan favourite at Boro and scored in their memorable cup win over Aston Villa last year

Reid is a fan favourite at Boro and scored in their memorable cup win over Aston Villa last year

Among the first to call Reid with congratulations was Ollie Watkins, with the Aston Villa striker (pictured playing for Exeter in 2017) a close friend from school and days in Exeter's academy

Among the first to call Reid with congratulations was Ollie Watkins, with the Aston Villa striker (pictured playing for Exeter in 2017) a close friend from school and days in Exeter’s academy

‘Coming into League One for the first time, I wasn’t sure what to expect. After the first game, I thought I’m fine. I always felt I was good enough to play at this level and now I’m getting the chance to show that.’

Reid is eligible to play for Northern Ireland through his maternal grandmother Mary and the call from Michael O’Neill came just days from the anniversary of her death.

‘She would be proud as anything,’ he said. ‘My family will be proud, especially my Mum, with the call-up. The next step is to show them what I can do in training and hopefully get on the pitch.

‘I feel a little bit like I’m making up for lost time. I just want to look back on my career and know I’ve given it everything. Probably in my early years, I wasn’t doing that but in the last five or six years I’ve given it a right good go, and I’ve got to here and that’s not the end. I want to kick on, learn more and improve more.’

Premier League have a lot to thank EFL for

Strange how some in the Premier League feel they owe nothing to the rest of English football when it is so tightly bound. 

There are, at present, 132 top-flight players developing on loan in the EFL, 55 at Championship clubs, 54 in League One and 23 in League Two. Over the whole season, loans from Premier League into the EFL have reached 200.

132 top-flight players are developing on loan in the EFL, like Tottenham's Alfie Devine (right), who is enjoying a stint at Plymouth having previously shone at League One side Port Vale

132 top-flight players are developing on loan in the EFL, like Tottenham’s Alfie Devine (right), who is enjoying a stint at Plymouth having previously shone at League One side Port Vale

Colchester’s unique attempt to tackle pitch problem 

Colchester United’s slide into the boggy depths of League Two has not been helped by four home games postponed for waterlogging in what is usually one of the driest corners of the UK.

It is down to the clay bed under the Jobserve Community Stadium, according to Sir Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester for 18 years until 2015, who tells me the soil in the Mile End area of the town is good for blackcurrants and roses but not for pristine playing surfaces.

Struggling League Two side Colchester have attempted to tackle a pitch problem that saw four home game postponed by trimming the pitch dimensions of the Jobserve Community Stadium

Struggling League Two side Colchester have attempted to tackle a pitch problem that saw four home game postponed by trimming the pitch dimensions of the Jobserve Community Stadium

The Us have been granted permission to trim the pitch dimensions to tackle the issue but Saturday’s defeat at Barrow sank them deeper into trouble, and they face leaders Mansfield next.

Relegation, three years after Southend, would leave Essex without a club in the top four tiers.

Aspects to like about Infantino’s latest FIFA idea

Bhutan v Central African Republic in Sri Lanka, anyone? Or Vanuatu v Brunei in Saudi Arabia? Hardly the sportswashing coup to eclipse the Grand Prix and the Anthony Joshua fight.

Although there are aspects to like about the FIFA Series 2024, the latest brainwave from Gianni Infantino, which starts this week.

It is the pilot for a full roll-out in 2026 and involves 24 teams who don’t expect to qualify for the big international tournaments competing in five host nations. There are no trophies and no prize money but FIFA will cover travel costs.

There are aspects to like about Gianni Infantino's latest brainwave, the FIFA Series 2024

There are aspects to like about Gianni Infantino’s latest brainwave, the FIFA Series 2024


Source From: Football | Mail Online

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