Lee and Steve helped my talent to flourish
took a bit longer for it to happen to me. When I left, I thought I was technically as good as anyone at Celtic. But I wasn’t the biggest and that’s why they let me go. “It was hard to accept. I was a Celtic fan and wanted to play for them. “But I had to go and thankfully it has worked out well for me. “A lthough initially, I went away to Hibs and it was the same story. Theysaid I was too small to play there. “That was tough but I always believed in myself. You have your doubts but that just made me work harder. “By the time I got to Hamilton at 17, I knew I had to bulk up. “Right now, I’m small but quite broad. Back then I was small and sk inny. I just had to work hard in the gym. “I did that and at the same time took a stretch as well. Thathelped me progress at Accies.
“A lex Neil was there and he could see the determination in me – the work I was doing in the gym on my own.
“I’d like to hope that there are people at Celtic and Hibs who maybe look at me now and think: ‘We should have given that boy more of a chance. Maybe we made a mistake letting him go.’ “I enjoy proving people w rong. I know I’ve got a long way to go – I’m still miles off where I want to be. But I’ve had ups and downs already in my career – and I have always got past them.” After suffering setbacks, it would have been easy for a teenage Brophy to adopt the wrong attitude – or take a d ifferent path altogether. But with the help of his family and an inner strength, he stuck at it. And when Neil got hold of him at New Douglas Park, he quick ly moved on to another level. He said: “My parents helped at lot after leaving Hibs six months in. “They just told me to keep bel ieving and that things would change. If I ever got down about it, they’d pick me up. “If it wasn’t for them I know for a fact I wouldn’t be where I am now. “I had a dream of being a footballer and I was determined to make it happen after the sacrifices I’d made. “When I finished school at 4pm, I’d need to be at the Showcase Cinema for a 4.45 pick up to go through to Hibs. “You’re trying to eat something quickly, train, then you don’t back home until 10 at night.
“At 16, I was playing games on a Saturday j u st w h e n m y p a l s w a nt e d t o g o out . Those a r e the sacrifices you make – but it’s all worth it.
“A lex just immediately took a shine to me at Hamilton. I hadn’t even played an Under-20s game but when he got the first-team job he put me straight in. “I scored on my debut and it proved just how quickly football can change for you. “I’m not sure why Alex liked me. Maybe he saw a bit of himself in me. “You need a bit of luck in football and I got it Eamonn Brophy has hailed Lee McCulloch for spotting his talent – and current Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke for allowing it to flourish.
The 22-year-old had fallen out of the picture at Hamilton Accies under gaffer Martin Canning when McCulloch gambled by taking him to Rugby Park.
The move has paid off for Brophy and, under Clarke, he now looks capable of fulfilling his potential. The striker with Alex at Hamilton. He developed me massively as a player.” Now the sky’s the limit for Brophy. He has been a key player in the Steve Clarke revolution at Killie and is convinced he’s only going to get better. He said: “I want to have the best career I possibly can. “I want to get better at Kilmarnock, which is a great platform to learn at. “I can’t learn from any better striker than Kris Boyd and I have a manager who has worked at the top level. “So I’m in the right place and I’ll see where it takes me.” Brophy admits he has a n eye on moving to a bigger club. He said: “I feel I’m good enough to play at the top level, whether it’s in England one day or for Scotland. “I know I’ ll score goals at this level and this feels like the best form I’ve ever been in. “I’m really happy here and when you feel like that every thing’s easier.” has bagged two goals already this season and said: “I need to mention Lee because he brought me to the club.
“My last two years at Hamilton felt like a waste. I wasn’t improving.
“When the manager changed, I wasn’t Canning’s cup of tea.
“I was in and out of the team and didn’t enjoy it.
“I’m sure Martin would agree with that.
“Lee spotted something in me and I can’t thank him enough for signing me.
“Now, the current gaffer is giving me an opportunity and I’m loving every minute.
“I’m learning every day off him. He has worked with some of the best players in the world.
“In games, I now know where I should be when the team doesn’t have the ball. Before I didn’t think like that – I’d do what I wanted.
“That has changed – he has brought my game on hugely.”