A FORMER Bradford City youth player whose career was ended by injury urges other budding footballers to have a back-up plan.

Joe Brennan, 19, has swapped the football pitch for the building site after being released by the Bantams at the end of last season.

The midfielder suffered from a knee injury which prevented him from playing all of last season, after signing as a professional in June last year.

Mr Brennan made a couple of unused appearances as a substitute for the claret and amber side’s first team during the 2014/15 season.

He has now joined Momentum Sales Solutions, a recruitment and training specialist which has an office in Hall Road, Bradford.

He is now working as a construction resource consultant, where he will supplies trades people to the construction industry, across the country.

But he has not given up on his dream to play professional football again and is lining up for FC Emley in Huddersfield as a semi-pro.

Mr Brennan said: “I think if you’re a young player, you always need a back-up, football is a short career.

“I played for Bradford City since I was in the under 14s team.

“Injuries really hampered my development last season but right now I want to learn, develop and upskill myself to be a great addition to the Momentum team in my new career path.

“Football has been a huge part of my life since the age of eight when I first went to Liverpool and I hope it will still have a part to play in my future.

“I hope I can get some games under my belt at FC Emley, and I will need to work hard at it.”

But Mr Brennan, who lives in Huddersfield, says he has no regrets about his football career coming to an end. He added: “I was over the moon to get a scholarship and a pro contract with Bradford.

“Winning the league and getting to the youth alliance final will always be stand out memories for me and ones I will always cherish.

“It was Stuart McCall who really helped my game when I was playing for the under 14s.

“It’s every lads’ dream to play professional football and I’m very thankful I got to taste that even though it was only briefly, but that’s in the past now and I just want to focus on giving my all for Momentum.

“My dad has always worked within the construction sector as a joiner, so I’ve always been exposed to what the industry entails and the terminology and he’s often had me labouring for him on site in his busier times.”

Billy Bingham, Momentum director, praised his new recruit.

He said: “Joe has all the attributes we are looking for in an employee.

“His time at Bradford will have really matured Joe.

“Although he’s only got his foot on the first step of the ladder in his career, I’m expecting Joe to develop and kick on in our industry like he did with Bradford City.”