The surprise package of the League of Ireland season used lockdown to take his game to the next level.

But around Drogheda, there’s no sense of shock that flying right full-back James Brown is starting to turn heads.

The 22-year-old (pictured right) is a classic League of Ireland late bloomer, who flew under the radar in his teens while other names hogged the limelight. 

Brown is getting a lot of attention now, especially his relentless energy and work rate that has been evident in late goals for his side, including an assist for the insurance goal in last Friday’s win over St Patrick’s Athletic.

On paper, Drogheda are a part-time club but Brown is benefiting from a full-time dedication that intensified during lockdown.

A personal trainer by trade, he had access to facilities that allowed him to work harder than ever, and lose half a stone, to get up to speed for the step-up from First Division level.

Tim Clancy’s dressing-room is reaping the benefits.

“I haven’t really stopped myself since January,” says the Blanchardstown native. 

“Towards the end of the games, I’m saying to myself, in the back of my head, that I’ve a lot more in the tank.

“I’m seeing other fellas tiring, but know there’s another run or two in me.

“We are a fit group, you could see it from the start of pre-season. I reckon if the games were 100 or 110 minutes long, we’d win more.”

Brown is enjoying the profile that comes with Premier status, with his father John there to keep his feet on the ground.

“He’s my number one fan and my number one critic,” smiled Brown, speaking ahead of  Friday night’s trip to Finn Harps.

“I played my best game against Derry this year, I got home and the first thing he did was to give out about my throw-ins.

“But I need that as well, you can get carried away easily with all of the publicity, so you need someone to bring you down to earth as well.

“My old man always says not to get too high when you’re going good, and not to get too low when you are going bad.” 

Still, Brown is getting a kick from the better days, especially after being in the background in his teens. His Drogs team-mate Mark Doyle wasn’t even in the top tier at schoolboy level, so he can share in that satisfaction.

“There’s a lot of superstars at that younger age who are falling off now,” says Brown.

“But a lot of it is off the pitch. You just have to keep your belief and look after yourself.”