Richard Brodie was born in Gateshead and started his career with Whickham in the Northern League before being signed by former York striker Paul Baker at Newcastle Benfield.
Richard Brodie was born in Gateshead and started his career with Whickham in the Northern League, and after being their top scorer with 21 goals in 35 league appearances was signed by former York striker Paul Baker at Newcastle Benfield in the summer of 2006.
However, it was during an FA Cup tie against York City that he came to the attention of their then manager Billy McEwan, who signed him the following January for a nominal fee. Brodie immediately started to pay back that outlay by scoring as a substitute on his debut at Altrincham, and in his first full season with the Minstermen he netted 14 goals in 48 appearances as they took up their option of extending his contract until the end of the 2008-09 season.
That record soon had his hometown club Gateshead making enquiries and they had a four-figure offer turned down, although York were more accommodating when Barrow later asked to take him on loan. He promptly scored twice on his debut for the Cumbrians against Tamworth. But the dismissal of manager Colin Walker at York and the appointment of Martin Foyle in his place immediately saw him recalled to Bootham Crescent. It appeared an excellent decision as Brodie went on to finish top goalscorer with 19 goals in 46 appearances, which once more saw his contract extended for the 2009-10 campaign.
Gateshead were still showing definite signings of interest though, and had a five-figure offer turned down before Brodie signed a new two-year deal at York – keeping him under contract there until June 2011. With his immediate future now firmly settled, Brodie began to really hit form and soon netted his first-ever hat-trick against Chester City before then grabbing another one against Hinckley United.
Nevertheless envious eyes were once more monitoring his progress and League Two strugglers Grimsby Town became the latest to have an offer rebuffed, Meanwhile, Brodie was still banging in goals for fun as he netted a first-half hat-trick against AFC Wimbledon – his third of the season – and eventually finished the campaign with 37 goals in 51 appearances, which earned him the Blue Square Premier’s ‘Player of the Year’, ‘Top Goalscorer’ and a member of their ‘Team of the Year’ titles. These added to a couple of earlier appearances for the England ‘C’ national side.
His success naturally produced more intense speculation over the summer with a host of clubs being linked with his services, until York finally accepted a Blue Square Premier record offer of £275,000 from Crawley Town in August 2010.
