Bertie Brayley’s name is forever etched in West Ham United history.
A part of the famous 1999 FA Youth Cup winning team, Brayley was a youngster on top of the world. He had scored for his beloved Hammers at the Boleyn Ground and helped the young Irons claim silverware. Things were going in one, very positive direction.
Just a year later, however, and Brayley was on the move, joining Queens Park Rangers and beginning a career that would see him play for several, notable clubs in non-league football.
So eager to play football, Brayley has played for 26 different clubs in a 22-year career, all stemming from his development in the Academy of Football.
HAMMERS HERO
A lifelong West Ham fan, Brayley actually began his footballing journey with another Claret and Blue side, Aston Villa, training with the Midlands team as a schoolboy.
Born in Basildon, Brayley would travel regularly to the Birmingham-based side, but the frequent, long miles made life with Villa hard to bear for the teenager.
“My story was a bit of a strange one,” Brayley reflected. “I was playing for Aston Villa up in the Midlands as a schoolboy, but I was based in Essex.
“I was playing for the county at the time and there were nine other West Ham schoolboys playing for them, so Tony Carr used to come over sometimes and watch our county matches.
“I started to become unhappy at Aston Villa because the travel was too far, and I was permitted to train with West Ham one day a week and also travel up to Villa. West Ham was my hometown club and my whole family supported them.
“In the end, I left Villa and signed for West Ham.”
And so, Brayley was with the Club he grew up supporting, achieving his dream of pulling on the famous Irons shirt and working his way through the Academy of Football.
The versatile forward was a formidable finisher as a youngster, helping the immensely talented youth team of 1999 to see their way past Stockport County, Walsall, York City, Arsenal and Everton to set up a two-legged final showdown with Coventry City.
A team comprising the likes of future England internationals Michael Carrick and Joe Cole would beat the Sky Blues 3-0 at Highfield Road, before thrashing them 6-0 in front of 25,000-plus supporters at the Boleyn Ground.
Of West Ham’s nine goals, Brayley scored three.
“That FA Youth Cup win was fantastic,” he reminisced: “I missed a penalty in the first leg at Highfield Road, but I didn’t let my head drop and I got my goal in the end.
“The second leg was at Upton Park, and I scored my first goal up the Bobby Moore end and my second goal up the Trevor Brooking end. It was a dream come true, especially in front of a full house at the Boleyn Ground. The support from the fans that day was incredible.
“Everyone was good in that team and every player had their own individual qualities. We also obviously had special talents, the likes of Joe Cole, but every boy was strong in every position.”
DIFFICULT DEPARTURE
It was following his goalscoring exploits in the FA Youth Cup that Brayley agreed professional terms with West Ham. A dream come true.
Just a year later, however, and the attacker was on the move, being released by the Club at his own request without any first-team appearances to his name.
The then 18-year-old would sign for Queens Park Rangers, then in the Football League Second Division, but was released a year later as the side was relegated and entered into administration. A switch to Swindon Town followed.
Having been able to enjoy the comforts of remaining in east London during his career so far, Brayley admitted he found leaving home difficult.
“It was a tough time for me. I had some personal things going on in the background and I asked West Ham to release me. It was probably the biggest mistake of my life because West Ham were my club.
“I could never really settle after that. I went over to QPR, and after they went into administration I signed for Swindon Town as Roy Evans’ first signing. I managed to play some games in the football league before dropping into the semi-pro game.
“I played for some of the big non-league sides, such as Eastleigh, Braintree, Billericay and Chelmsford City. I have played for quite a few clubs in non-league, but I had a good time.
“If I could go back, I would do things a lot differently. Only a low percentage of people can be a professional footballer, so if you have that opportunity in your hands, take it and do whatever you have to do to be the best version of yourself.”
LIFE LESSONS
Brayley still looks back fondly on his time with his boyhood Club, and his contributions to West Ham history have not been forgotten, with the forward being involved in tributes to the 1999 youth team’s efforts on the 20-year-anniversary in 2019.
The lessons from his time in the Academy of Football helped shaped the man he is today, even forming aspects of his coaching venture, Teklab 121. In a ‘full-circle’ moment, equipment from his company was used in West Ham United first-team training earlier this year.
“I take little drills that I used to do at West Ham and try to implement them into my business. They’re game related drills and I have added my own little details to them because the way the game is played has changed now, but little things like that have helped me greatly.
“It was really good to see West Ham using my TekBounder board during training. My Club are in Europe, and they are using my board in training which is great.
“I’ve got a wife, Paige, and three kids – Bobby, Frankie and Alba - as well as my own one-to-one business so things are looking bright.
“I grew up in quite a tough area and football was my escape, but one thing that West Ham taught me was to be a good person. That goes a long way and helps you to get somewhere in life.”
