'Hope I can inspire' - Reid's rise from non-league to international

Stevenage's Jamie Reid has scored five goals for his club this season

Stevenage striker Jamie Reid hopes his rise from non-league to international football can act as inspiration to all players lower down the pyramid.

After being released by Exeter City at the age of 24, Reid dropped out of the English Football League to make his name with Torquay United.

He followed up a 32-goal campaign in 2018-19 with 21 the next year to earn a move back to the EFL with Mansfield and is now in his fifth season at Stevenage.

Reid's form at the Lamex Stadium, including a 22-goal season in 2023-24, earned a call-up from Northern Ireland last year and he now has 12 caps and two goals.

And the 31-year-old prides himself on having become an international player the hard way.

"When I was 25, I was playing [in the National League for Torquay] and Covid then hit," Reid told BBC Look East.

"At no point did I think I would play internationally and play for Northern Ireland. But you just have to keep going.

"I hope I can give some people playing in non-league that inspiration. There are so many players who don't get this chance."

It's not all been plain sailing for Reid, though, who had a "scary" setback just over a year ago when, not long after playing for his country, he suffered a blood clot in his leg during a holiday in Dubai.

"I had a bruise on my leg for two weeks," he recalled. "I thought I had got it from a kick against Andorra. I had a couple of flights for a holiday and then one day woke up and I couldn't walk.

"I went straight to hospital and it took a while to recover. It was all new to me, but I had a good team behind me. It's crazy how one day I was fine, the next I couldn't walk."

From watching Torquay with his grandfather to playing for them

Jamie Reid had three loan spells at Torquay United before joining them on a full-time basis in 2018

Reid, who was born in Torquay but grew up in Exeter, was picked up by the Grecians' academy when he was 12.

He progressed through the ranks to earn a professional contract, but struggled to break through at St James Park and left after 27 appearances.

"I had to take a step down, I had never been away from home but it was the best thing I have ever done - I feel I have grown so much by moving away," he said.

"It's only later in life you realise how small the chances of making it as a footballer are. I couldn't tell you one of the boys I played with who have become footballers.

"Football is about opinions. There are always people who think you're not good enough but the only ones that matter are yours and the manager's. You have to believe in yourself and push yourself."

Every Saturday as a child, Reid's grandfather took he and his brother to watch Torquay - the club Reid would end up making almost 200 appearances for after leaving Exeter.

"I probably wasn't the best at school, I won't lie," he said. "My concentration levels were very low.

"I felt sorry for my mum, she was a single mum, she had two boys, and my brother and I were both into our football. That's all we ever did. We were boisterous. She was unbelievable. She dropped me to games, she bought me new boots.

"They (the Torquay players) were my heroes and that was my introduction to football. They were very special days.

"Every game we would be asking for players' autographs, so I know what it's like for fans asking now because I used to be one of them."

Northern Ireland debut goal my 'proudest moment'

Jamie Reid has scored international goals against Romania and Luxembourg

Reid, who is eligible for Northern Ireland through his maternal grandmother, scored on his international debut in a friendly against Romania in March 2024.

"I was so happy and excited and I wasn't nervous - I thought I'd be the total opposite; the emotion of the day got me through it," he recalled.

"It's the proudest moment of my career [scoring for Northern Ireland], and the biggest. I want more of it so that's what I will be trying to do. The pace and quality is so much higher and I loved it.

"My mum came to Belfast for a home game, she sang the national anthem with my brother. It was very special.

"She used to live in Germany for 15 years before she had me and my brother - her whole life was there, and my brother was born there.

"For a few years Germany was our summer holiday and there was a massive connection. So when I played Germany away (in a World Cup qualifier last month) it was very special and a memory that will live with my whole family."

Back at Stevenage, Reid has scored five goals in 10 League One games so far this season to help his club to second place, just a point behind leaders Cardiff City.

"The gaffer (Alex Revell) brought me here and he's made me a better player," Reid added. "We have a good changing room and special things can happen.

"It's cut-throat being a number nine, but when the ball drops in the box I know I will finish it."