Cambridge United winger James Brophy reflects on footballing journey to the Abbey Stadium via British Airways, non-league, Swindon Town and Leyton Orient

Aged 21 and working for British Airways, James Brophy understandably assumed that his chances of entering the professional ranks had fallen by the wayside.

Upon leaving a secondary school where football had not been on the agenda, Brent-born Brophy embarked on stints playing on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings with the likes of Belstone, Broadfields United and Edgware Town.

But then out of the blue his big chance materialised in 2015. He was invited for a trial at Swindon Town – and after using up the entirety of his holiday entitlement with his employer – Brophy earned himself a 12-month contract with the then Sky Bet League One club.

And from that moment onwards the now 28-year-old has not looked back, turning out on more than 60 occasions for the Robins before racking up 151 appearances in Leyton Orient colours. From there it was on to Cambridge United in the summer of 2021 and having featured 84 times, the Love Cambridge Player of the Month for December is closing in on another century.

“All of my football was completely outside of school for a number of years and when I hit 16 I wasn’t in an academy or anything like that, I just started playing for non-league teams on a Saturday or Sunday,” said Brophy, who picked up his prize at Gresham House Wellness in the city centre earlier this week.

“I was enjoying it. I enjoyed my job, working Monday to Friday and having the weekend to myself, even though all of my weekend was football – either watching or playing it.

“You think at that age the boat is gone and nowadays the players seem to be getting younger and younger. There’s a feeling among a lot of boys that if you’re not spotted by 14 or 15 then you never will make it and I probably felt the same.

“I was just getting my head down in non-league, playing every week and balancing that with work.

“But then I was playing in a game and someone from Swindon had come to watch another of the boys in our team. After the game he asked me if I wanted to come down for a trial over the summer.

“I took my holiday from British Airways, I was a sales analyst there. I took two weeks off to go to Swindon and at the end of it they said they liked me but they wanted to see a bit more of me before deciding if they were going to sign me.

“I went back to my boss and asked to take my other two weeks, he agreed but then warned me if it doesn’t come off then I’d have no holiday left for the rest of the year.

“I went back for another two weeks and they still weren’t sure. I didn’t have an agent or anything at that point, but I had to say to Swindon that I appreciate the opportunity but if I wasn’t going to get a contract then I was going to have to go back to work.

“I couldn’t keep hanging on, end up losing my job and then I’m back living with my mum! Thankfully they offered me something after a month of being there and I’ve never really looked back.”

Brophy believes it was those non-league days that provided him with the perfect platform to carve out a Football League career.

A winger with pace that enjoys carrying the ball, he was often the target of some rough treatment from opposition defenders who were keen to avoid being embarrassed by a young player.

“My shin pads are tiny now compared to what they used to be! The rough side of non-league football definitely helped. It helped me to mature quicker as a player and to find solutions,” he said.

“I know I’m never going to be the biggest or the strongest on the pitch so you have to find a way to beat that.”

And his route has not only helped him from a technical point of view, it has also allowed him to put United’s recent poor run of form into perspective.

“(Last) Monday (at Sheffield Wednesday, 5-0 defeat) was really tough. We came off the pitch, it’s horrible and we know we need to be a lot better than that,” he added. “It’s a disappointment and it’s something we’re working hard to correct.

“But there’s worse places to be playing than at Sheffield Wednesday in front of 25,000 or 30,000 people.

“You have to find the balance to it. It does help coming from where I’ve come. It’s easier to see good things in it and to find that balance quicker maybe than boys that have come through a top level academy. I’ve come from the bottom up, so this is the highest I’ve been and you can only see the good things.”

That is not to say that Brophy is content with his lot.

United’s number seven is always seeking to improve and is acutely aware that he needs to start contributing more goals, having only found the net once for the U’s.

He said: “I have to (improve). The type of player I am, I’ll probably always create more for other people than score myself, but you’ve always got to look to be a better player.

“And for me to become a better player I definitely need to try to add goals to my game.

“It’s something I’m constantly working on during the week in training to make sure it improves.

“It’s probably being a bit more selfish at times instead of looking to thread through a pass or trying to wait for the perfect chance.

“I need to have more shots because I don’t tend to take many and obviously if you don’t shoot you don’t score.

“It’s about sniffing out more chances when the ball isn’t with me, getting into a position where if the ball drops for me then I can strike it towards goal.”

What I Like About Cambridge

Cambridge United has teamed up with Cambridge BID to give supporters the chance to vote for their Love Cambridge Player of the Month, supported by the Cambridge Independent. Sponsors Love Cambridge is part of Cambridge BID, a collaboration of 1,200 businesses working together to promote and improve the city of Cambridge.

James Brophy was the winner of the December award and below he outlines what he enjoys doing in the city.

Q: What are your favourite things to do in the city?

A: “I like coffee so I enjoy the walk from the Grafton Centre to the Grand Arcade, there’s some decent places along the way.

“The shopping is good, there are some nice walks along the river and there are some good parks as well. I’ve got a little one, he’s just over a year old and there’s some good parks to take him to and get a football around. There’s some good soft plays in the area as well.

“With the family we probably come into the city once a week and we really like it.”

Q: What does it mean to win this award?

A: “It’s nice. I’ve been playing football for a number of years now and the priority is to do the right thing for the club and make sure the club is happy with your performances.

“But if you’re making an impression on the fans obviously that’s a good thing because they’re the ones that pay the money to come and watch you play. It’s nice to get that recognition from them.”