Sweeney looks back on career as he plans for Testimonial at City

WHEN a player gets released by a football club, having come through the Academy or formed some sort of connection with it following a transfer, then there is always a worry of what comes next.

- by STUART JAMES

That was the case facing Pierce Sweeney nine years ago when he was told that Reading would not be offering him a new contract after four years with the Royals. There, he helped the Under-21 side win the Premier League Cup in 2014, but the Irishman never made a first team appearance after his move from Bray Wanderers at the age of 18.

However, Sweeney's fears were quickly allayed as he soon got himself fixed up with a new club. That club was Exeter City and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I was released by Reading in May 2016 and a very good friend of mine, Jake Taylor, was on the phone to me probably in March/April time asking me what my situation was because Tis (Paul Tisdale, the Exeter manager of that time) wanted to have a conversation with me," Sweeney recalls.

"I remember we played Exeter City in a mid-season friendly up at our training ground and Tis liked me from then and he asked the question to Jake, so Jake was like the club's agent at the time trying to get me down.