Birmingham teen went from street robber to soccer star

Jun 28 2009 by Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

“I knew him from when he played a few games for a team I coached.

“With his background and the situation he was in, he was suitable for our Guns and Gangs programme which helps people like him work towards something other than gangs.

“It combines intense mentoring with showing them there is something else available.

“James came to me and he was honest. He said he wasn’t sure he would be able to complete the programme and thought he would soon be in prison.

“We talked about his future and to his credit he took what was said on board.

“He has shown maturity and done something a lot of young people would want to do but are not able to.”

With Scott’s help James wrote letters to every team in the Championship and League One at the end of last year, pleading for a chance to show off his skills.

Only Bristol Rovers and Carlisle United replied.

James says the West Country outfit were put off when they spoke to Birmingham City officials who warned them of his bad attitude.

But the handwritten plea that fell on the desk of Carlisle’s youth team coach, Eric Kinder, sparked enough of an interest for a trial.

“I get 20 or 30 letters a week from players or agents asking me to look at them,’’ said Eric.

“For obvious reason I cannot look at many of them but James’ letter caught my eye.

“I rang him and told him if he could get himself to Carlisle we would look after him for two days.

“A couple of days later he was knocking on my office door ready for his trial.”