 A latecomer to the professional game, he found a Football League club at age 22, and was a regular first-team player for the first time at age 23.Beginning his career as a Millwall reserve following an impressive spell at non-League Edgware Town, in 2002 he joined Brentford.He was unimpressive however and moved on to Southend United the following year, where he proved to be a goal-ever-other-game revelation.