The journey of Andrew Boyce

The journey of Andrew Boyce: A story for any young players who've been let go by their clubs this summer and in need of inspiration.

It’s the summer of 2009.

Eric Prydz’s 'Pjanoo' is at the top of the music charts, the UK economy is dragging itself away from the grip of the recession and Barcelona’s ‘tiki-taka’ style under some guy called 'Pep' is conquering the football world.

Much closer to home, at Doncaster Rovers, the first team has overcome a torrid first half of the season to haul themselves off the bottom of the Championship and secure another year of second-tier football but for Andrew Boyce, instead of being part of that journey, it's a different story.

With little in the way of a first team opening at the Keepmoat Stadium, he's just been released and at 19 years of age, he must now find another club and make his own way in the world. He’s been out on loan at Worksop Town (at Step 3) and has been told he’s got 'potential' but it's not been enough to earn him another contract.

Andrew Boyce celebrates a win during his five years at Eastleigh (Photo: Eastleigh FC).

At this point, amidst the despair, rejection and natural worries about the future that such a scenario provokes for every player, things could go one of two ways. He could leave football altogether and pursue a new way of living, or he could use the disappointment as burning fuel to ignite the fire and do something he's always wanted ever since he was a little boy: be a professional footballer (and prove people wrong in doing so).

Thirteen years on from that period, Boycey is back in the same position of being released - this time having made over 200 for Eastleigh in the National League over the past five years. 

But what he’s achieved in the years since leaving Doncaster shows that the judgment made in 2009 was just that; an opinion, and it doesn't have to stop you from achieving whatever you want to achieve.

Although centre-back is notoriously one of the most difficult positions in a team to establish yourself, he never gave up chasing his dream. Even after enduring a strange time at Kings Lynn immediately following his DRFC departure when the Linnets went bust mid-season, he took his desire to Gainsborough Trinity where he was signed by a former Premier League gaffer in Brian Little.

It was at Gainsborough where he established himself over two-and-a-half years. Playing regularly, he reached the point where he was just one game away from achieving promotion to the National League only for that dream to end via a defeat to Nuneaton Town in the Play-Off Final.

Still, his attitude, drive and application meant he was soon a National League player anyway as Lincoln City gave him the chance of full-time football once more. He then went on to play for Scunthorpe, Grimsby (twice), Hartlepool (under Ronnie Moore) and Notts County over the next few years at some top grounds such as Fratton Park, Pride Park, Deepdale and Bramall Lane.

He's played against well-known players including Dele Alli, Darren Bent, Sylvain Distin, Ollie Watkins, Tom Ince and Conor Hourihane in his career, scored a few crucial goals, had the ball ache of a midweek trip to Plymouth for an FA Cup replay, and made loads of memories which he'll be able to recall in an instant and tell his kids and grandkids about in years to come.

And he wouldn't have done any of that had he not overcome that rejection at the start of his career and proved people wrong.

It's also the character and resilience gained at a young age which meant when Boycey has endured low moments in his career; such as being a game away from an FA Cup Third Round tie against Liverpool when he was at Lincoln, or missing out on a trip to Wembley by losing a Play-Off Semi-Final whilst on loan at Grimsby, he’s been able to get through it, recover quickly, and enjoy the career he's had.

Having played over 3,000 minutes in each of the past five seasons for Eastleigh at National League level and with over 400 career appearances under his belt, I'm pretty confident that, with the help of Mr Philpott, he'll be showing his qualities at another club next season.

So, to any young footballers out there reading this who've just been released and might be feeling worried about the future, remember that you're gaining strength in adversity right now and, even if it doesn't seem like it, these emotions will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Of course, not every young player released is going to go on and play at a high level and enjoy some of the moments which Boycey has done over the past 13 years.

Luck and timing at a club is as important as anything else but always believe in your own ability and qualities as a person. Being told 'No' is just one opinion and if you can go on and forge a career at whatever level, and get paid for doing something you enjoy, there's no better feeling in the world.

Like Andrew Boyce, don't let rejection define you.