James Brophy: Gareth Ainsworth is 'someone I would want to play for'
Gillingham's new signing opens up in his first official interview with the club, and reveals how manager Gareth Ainsworth proved a key factor in his decision to put pen to paper at Priestfield.
Often, when players sign at Priestfield, we hear them talking about the stadium, the fans, and the potential at the football club. But Gillingham’s first signing of the summer was very clear on the major factor that put Gillingham above the rest when he decided where he wanted to sign.
Chatting to the club’s official website, Brophy explained how Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth really won him over and proved the difference-maker in convincing him that Gillingham was the right move for him and his family.
“Yeah, really excited, really happy,” he said.
“As soon as I met Gareth, I had a really good conversation with him, really good chat, found him really relatable, really genuine – and I think after that chat it kind of set in my mind that this was high up on my list as a place that I’d like to come.”
Not only did Ainsworth’s sales pitch pay off, it’s also clearly excited Brophy for the season ahead. Having spoken to a number of managers about a potential move, Ainsworth stood out as the boss Brophy was most excited to work with.
“I think for me as a player, it’s important to sign for a club, you sign for the manager, really,” he explained.
“Having met a few managers over the course of the off-season, I think Gareth definitely stood out to me and impressed me with how he communicated his values, his characteristics, and was someone I saw that I could play for, and would want to play for.”
After helping his last club earn promotion to League One, Brophy has no plans to put himself in a position where he’s battling at the wrong end of the table. After tasting the glory of promotion last season, he wants to repeat the experience at Gillingham.
“Obviously, I’m not getting any younger,” he said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play a lot of games. I feel like I’ve still got a lot of years left in me, but we’ve had a really good season this year just gone with Cambridge, achieving promotion, being successful, and that was definitely something that was important to me – to look for a club with that ambition as the next step, and I think that’s one that’s definitely here.”
Brophy didn’t waste any time in securing his playing future, as he secured his move before many players’ contracts expire at the very end of the month. For the 31-year-old, the decision to make the move swiftly was a deliberate one, driven by family, and overall mental wellbeing.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said.
“We’ve got two little ones, and I think our life is surrounded by football, and we have to make a lot of sacrifices for this line of work.
“I think in order for me to be successful as an individual, and then help the team as much as I can, I think it’s important to me to get settled earlier, because I think delaying it any longer or eating into pre-season, I think only has a negative impact on that season.
“So I think setting myself out early and knowing where I’ll be next season will put me in the best place to be the best I can next season, (and) hopefully help us be successful.
“It helps us move, helps us settle in quicker, and then helps us find the routine in order, in order for me to be able to give the best that I can. So that was definitely an important factor for us.”
And Brophy offered us a little teaser of what we can expect to see from him in a Gills shirt this season and beyond.
“I think I’m direct, I think I’m fast. I think I like to be positive on the pitch. I think I like to help create goals,” he said, as he listed off his attributes.
“I think probably my main factor is I like to help the team be better, and I think I contribute to that. And I think you get someone that you know gives everything they can while they’re on the pitch.”