After learning his trade at Dagenham & Redbridge, ace Jodi Jones has aired his views on the benefits of Non-League football in furthering a player's career.
Signed by Daggers as a 12-year-old, Jones urged his peers to not fear taking the plunge if they had become settled by the luxuries of academies at the higher level.
The winger addressed fellow prospects in a post on Twitter by stating: “A message to all young footballers:
“There is nothing wrong with having to drop down to Non-League to climb back up to the professional game.
“Forget about the fancy training grounds, the lifestyle and the luxury and comfort of being able to say ‘footballers for … FC'. Sometimes you need to find yourself within reality.
“Sometimes dropping down a level can help you become more hungry if you allow it to do so – don't give up!”
After making his first-team debut under John Still for the Daggers as a 17-year-old back in 2015, Jones quickly attracted interested from London's Premier League clubs as he showed his potential at the Victoria Road based outfit.
Keeping things measured, he joined Coventry City last summer by making a loan move permanent and has used Non-League as a springboard for his development, netting a hat-trick for the Sky Blues against Notts County on the first day of the season.
Now 19 and approaching 80 professional appearances, Jones added: “Play games at a good Non-League standard and smash it. Get your name circulating around, whether you're scoring goals or keeping clean sheets, get out your comfort zone and do it. A chance will come if you are doing it consistently whatever the level.”
🙌🏽⚽️ pic.twitter.com/H2HuIWT7ZF
— Jodi Jones (@JodsJones) August 16, 2017
He made his debut under Wayne Burnett not John Still.