From failed Portsmouth trial to Reading star - former AFC Portchester midfielder on going from ninth tier to Premier League hopeful

It's not a bad position for Andy Rinomhota to find himself in - especially when you consider he never really viewed professional football as a viable career route.

From the youth ranks at Portchester to the reserves and then Graham Rix's first team prior to signing a two-year deal with Championship club Reading aged 17 in 2015 - the 23-year-old's story is fairytale stuff.

It's even more remarkable when you think Rinomhota, who made his 100th Royals appearance earlier this month, managed to go largely unnoticed in the early stages of his career.

Apart from an unsuccessful two-day trial with Pompey as a 16-year-old, the midfielder received no real academy interest.

Upon leaving Cams Hill School in Fareham he studied a sports course at Portsmouth College for a year before getting a place on Steve Claridge's Football Foundation where he mixed playing with education.

Rinomhota made his Portchester debut as a sub in 2013/14, but it wasn’t until the following season that he made his breakthrough into adult football. He made 32 starts, plus seven off the bench, and was second top scorer with 12 goals as the club finished third in the Wessex League Premier Division - still their highest-ever position.

Eventually, the player’s big break came with former Chelsea and Pompey boss Rix fixing up a two-week trial at Reading after speaking with then-manager Steve Clarke.

But even at that stage Rinomhota, now 23, was weighing up whether to go to university or what next step to take in his life.

‘At the time, it was always in my head if I was going to be playing professional football I would have had an opportunity before that,' he said.

‘Most of the lads that were in academies or that I speak to now around me have been in an academy beforehand and have worked their way through.

‘At the time, it wasn’t really on my mind to be playing football full-time, I was obviously happy playing as regularly as I was with Portchester and just five-a-side.

‘I never thought it would be my full-time job.

‘Apart from that short trial with Portsmouth I never had any other academies looking at me, I was just happy playing my football.

‘I would have been thinking about maybe going to university or what my next step from there was.

‘I don’t know what it was, maybe it was the area I was in, it was only really Portsmouth and it was Southampton as well were the only two pro clubs that were the closest.

‘Obviously I’m so happy with how things have turned out. Like I said, not really expecting it just makes me appreciate it even more and I don’t take it for granted.'

Rinomhota shone so much in his two weeks at Reading he was offered a two-year professional deal with an option of a further year.

But still uncertain how far he could get in the game, he completed his studies with Claridge's Academy online after leaving Portchester.

‘He (Claridge) was good about it as he gave me the time off to go to the trial.

'When Reading said they were going to sign me I still finished my course. The teacher I had there at the time was happy for me to do stuff online, so where I was living with Reading I continued to do my work on the side and I managed to complete that course.

‘It was good to just have that under my belt because going into a pro club you don’t know how long you’re going to last.

‘It was my first one as well, I’d signed an initial two-year contract.

‘I didn’t know whether I’d be coming back out of the game at 19 but, thankfully, it didn’t work out like that.'

Fortunately for Rinomhota, he never had to fall back on his qualifications as he began to make a name for himself.

Handed his senior debut in an EFL Cup victory against Gillingham at the Madjeski Stadium in August 2017, it was a signal of what was to come.

It was the 2018-19 campaign under José Gomes where he announced himself to the Royals faithful.

Featuring 28 times over the course of the season, Rinomhota's part played in helping Reading avoid dropping out of the Championship did not go unrecognised as he was chosen as player of the season.

Now the midfielder, standing on 101 senior appearances, has aspirations of reaching the Premier League with Veljko Paunovic's side sitting fifth in the Championship - just three points off the automatic promotion spots.

And Rinomhota is bidding to realise his 'dream' of going from the ninth tier of the pyramid to the Premier League.

‘We want to aim for the best and promotion would be the aim,' he remarked.

'That’s the dream and it’s just trying to make it a reality now.

‘I think it could be a possibility (getting promoted) and we’re just fully focused and driven towards that goal, that’s the next step.

‘We’re just taking it game by game, trying to get three points every game and be consistent.

‘We had a good start and then came off it a little bit, but now we’re back on a good run and looking to build momentum.'

But no matter how far he manages to get in the game, he will never forget the grounding AFC Portchester provided him with.

Rinomhota's mum remains a regular in the crowd at the Crest Finance Stadium while he returns to where it all began for him when his schedule allows.

He will be forever thankful to Rix for the part he played in helping get to where he is today.

‘After I stopped playing my mum would still go down,' he added.

‘They gave my mum a season ticket and looked after her when she was going down to watch as well.

‘That’s what I mean, they don’t forget about you, they’re good to you and your family.

‘The club is run really well.

‘I was lucky with Graham and his contacts that he managed to speak to Steve Clarke and get a scout to come down and watch me.

‘Thankfully, from there I was able to get a trial then it was about me making the most of the opportunity but I’m thankful to Graham for that.

‘He was a big influence on my time and getting me into the place I am.'