Richard Brodie

Richard Jon Brodie (born 8 July 1987) is an English football manager and former player.

He later played youth football with Whickham Fellside Juniors from the age of 10 to 16, Redheugh Boys Club, scoring six goals in a 14–2 victory over Consett Badgers in March 2004, and the Durham County under-18 team, featuring in the FA County Youth Cup in November.

Brodie started his senior career in 2004 after making substitute appearances for Whickham in the semi-professional Northern League Division Two before playing for them permanently aged 17.

Brodie played as a striker and started his career with Whickham and, after being their top scorer in the 2005–06 season, moved to Newcastle Benfield in 2006.

He scored a hat-trick for Whickham in a 5–3 victory over Marske United in November 2005.

He scored 21 league goals in 35 appearances for Whickham and was their top scorer in the 2005–06 season.

Brodie moved to Northern League Division One club Newcastle Benfield in the summer of 2006 and became a popular player at the club.

This move came after impressing Benfield manager Paul Baker in a match between the teams, in which Brodie impressed with his physicality.

While playing semi-professionally, Brodie took a part-time apprenticeship in joinery and later worked as a full-time joiner.

He scored the first goal for Benfield in a friendly against Newcastle United in September, which finished as a 4–3 defeat.

Brodie scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Cammell Laird with a free kick from 25 yards.

He helped Benfield to victory in an FA Vase tie against Castle Vale in December by scoring their second goal in a 2–0 victory, which set up a fifth-round tie against Truro City.

He was taken on trial by Premier League team Bolton Wanderers and he played for them in a juniors tournament in France, which ended unsuccessfully after he was played out of position at centre-back.

He scored 3 goals in 11 league appearances for Benfield.

After impressing against Conference National club York City in a FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie, Brodie trialled with the club and played in their reserve team, whilst also being allowed to play for Benfield in the FA Vase.

He signed for York City in January 2007 and finished 2006–07 with one goal and played in the Conference National play-off semi-final.

He started 2007–08 with only 3 goals in 2007, but finished the season with 14 goals.

He signed for York on transfer deadline day, 31 January 2007, on a contract until the end of 2006–07 for a nominal fee.

He scored two minutes into his York debut with the third goal in a 4–0 victory away to Altrincham on 10 February 2007, having entered the match as a 64th-minute substitute.

He was sent off during a North Riding Senior Cup match for York's reserves against Scarborough in February 2007, but a suspension did not come into place until 14 days later, meaning he was able to play league-leaders Dagenham & Redbridge.

York ranked fourth in the Conference National and Brodie played in both legs of the play-off semi-final defeat to Morecambe, losing 2–1 on aggregate, and finished the season with 14 appearances and 1 goal.

In May 2007, York exercised their option to extend his contract for 2007–08.

Brodie made his first appearance of 2007–08 after being introduced as a 61st-minute substitute at home to Cambridge United on 11 August 2007, but was unable to help the team as they lost 2–1.

His first goal of the season came with the opener in a 3–2 home defeat to Rushden & Diamonds on 30 August 2007, and this was followed up with a goal in the following match, a 2–2 home draw with Altrincham.

Having not scored since, he received abuse from some sections of the York support during the 6–0 home victory over Rushall Olympic in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on 27 October 2007.

Following this, manager Billy McEwan said "I was disappointed to hear the young players like Richard Brodie getting stick. How can we develop young players if we don't support them?"

Early in 2008–09, Brodie was loaned to Barrow and scored four goals during a one-month period.

He earned two caps for the England national C team from 2008 to 2009.

Brodie was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, and grew up in the town as a Sunderland supporter.

He attended Whickham School and played football for the Gateshead district team as a teenager.

He finished the season as York's top scorer with 19 goals and played in their 2009 FA Trophy Final defeat at Wembley Stadium.

The 2009–10 season saw Brodie play in York's defeat in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium and again finish as top scorer, this time with 34 goals.

He joined Crawley Town in August 2010 for an undisclosed fee, and with them he won the Conference Premier title in 2010–11.

He joined Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan for 2011–12, winning a second Conference Premier title in as many seasons.

Brodie had loan spells with Morecambe and Grimsby Town over 2012–13, and after being released by Crawley joined Gateshead.

He was loaned out to Hereford United and Southport, joining the latter permanently in 2014.

Having been Southport's top scorer with 14 goals in 2014–15, Brodie joined Aldershot Town but finished 2015–16 with Stockport County.

He returned to York in 2016, but was released the following year after a loan spell with Macclesfield Town.

This was followed by short spells with Boston United and Southport.

He rounded off the final years of his playing career with spells at Skelmersdale United, Solihull Moors, Rushall Olympic, Warrington Town, Ramsbottom United and Ilkeston Town.