Chris Mepham, a 21-year-old Wales international who could play against Cardiff City on Saturday, was ready to quit football and become a gardener after being rejected by Chelsea, Watford and QPR.
Now everything is coming up roses. He’s a full Welsh international who tells Gareth Bale what to do and is playing Premier League football for AFC Bournemouth.
Okay, Mepham has only played a couple of minutes Premier League football following his £12m transfer from Brentford, but he’s a young man on a mission who hopes to face the Bluebirds this afternoon (Cardiff City Stadium, 5.30pm).
He has played for Wales against Denmark and the Republic of Ireland, having made his Dragons debut in China in March last year and found it ‘weird’ to have former Manchester United superstar Ryan Giggs as his manager and Real Madrid Galactico Bale as a team-mate.
No wonder. Brentford had unearthed Mepham at a low point playing for North Greenford United Reserves and he was pondering a future trimming lawns rather than playing football full-time.
He was released by Chelsea at 14, rejected by Watford and turned away by Queens Park Rangers after being given some brutal feedback that shattered his confidence.
Hammersmith-born Mepham drifted into Sunday league football Brentford scouts spotted him and the defender made such an impression that Bournemouth had a bid of £6.5m plus add-ons rejected for a 20-year-old with only 14 appearances to his name.
The 6ft 3ins centre-back has already become used to being at the Wales camps with Giggs, Bale and Co, saying: “The first time I was with Wales it was a massive shock to see Gareth walk in, but it’s just normal now.
“It’s important not to be in awe of him and constantly looking at him and thinking ‘Wow!’
“On the pitch you might be scared to boss people about and tell them what to do. I try to tell Baley what to do – but as subtly as possible.”
Mepham is often supported for club and country by his relatives, who live in the Ogmore Valley in South Wales, and says: “I’ve just about mastered the national anthem – but don’t ask me for a chorus!”
Hammersmith-born Mepham was Bournemouth’s second permanent signing of the January transfer window.
He started his career in the academy ranks at Premier League Chelsea, joining the Blues when he was 10-years-old.
He was released four years later and turned down by Watford and QPR before he was invited to join the youth set-up at Brentford in 2012.
He was spotted by Brentford scouts playing for North Greenford United reserves.
Then came a window of opportunity, after a game for North Greenford reserves at Uxbridge.
“I wasn’t meant to be playing, but the bloke starting in front of me had work commitments,” said Mepham.
“I had a really good game and when I went into the clubhouse afterwards, a Brentford scout called Shaun O’Connor asked how old I was. I think he was shocked that I was 16 playing in men’s football. He said he wanted me to train with Brentford’s under‑16s. My dad was buzzing but I didn’t really want to do it because of what had happened before.
But my mum said: ‘Even if you don’t want to go for yourself, go for me because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t convince you to go.’
It is a good thing that Mepham listens to his mum. ap and my dad came upstairs and with a smile on his face said: ‘Your agent is on the phone.’
“When he told me what Bournemouth had offered, I couldn’t believe it. I’d only made eight league starts. It was surreal. I just didn’t think that moment would ever come.”
Mepham made three appearances for the Bees youth team before he was offered and signed a scholarship in June 2014.
He took up his first professional deal in February 2016 and, after a series of eye-catching displays for the Brentford B team during the first half of 2016-17, Mepham was handed a two-year contract extension in January 2017.
The following day, he made his first-team debut as an 80th-minute substitute for Harlee Dean in a 5-1 win over Eastleigh in the third round of the FA Cup.
Mepham was named as the club’s B team player of the year in 2016-17 and promoted to the first-team squad, signing a new five-year contract.
He made 24 appearances in all competitions in 2017-18 and won his first senior cap for Wales during that breakthrough season.
Mepham began 2018-19 as Brentford’s first choice central defender and was called into the Wales under-20 squad for the 2017 Toulon Tournament.
He made his debut for the under-21s in a 3-0 win over Switzerland in an Under-21 European Championship qualifier in September 2017, captained the team against Romania six weeks later earned a first senior call-up for the 2018 China Cup.
Two months later, Mepham made his first international start in a 0–0 draw with Mexico in a friendly in front of a crowd of more than 82,000 in Pasadena.
Mepham won two further caps when he started Uefa Nations League games against Republic of Ireland and Denmark in September 2018.
Today, the Welsh international from London is in South Wales preparing to take on the Bluebirds.