He was cruelly denied a Pompey deal after rubbing shoulders with De Bruyne, Aguero and Toure. Now the former Premier League starlet has moved to the seventh tier of English football at the age of 27.
He was one of a procession of triallists in the summer of 2021, as Danny Cowley assembled his squad for a first full season at the Pompey helm.
Yet fate was to strike a cruel blow as injury dashed hopes of the former Premier League man earning a Fratton deal, which could well have been in the offing.
He said: ‘Brandon did just fine against Bristol City.
‘He’s an athletic, overlapping full-back with good technical qualities, one that we’ve known for quite a while.
Within weeks of the injury, however, Mason had been paid up by the Sky Blues with a year remaining on his deal, as he faced a gruelling period of rehab and not kicking a competitive ball until the following season.
Former Pompey triallist Brandon Mason in Premier League action for Watford against Spurs. Getty.Former Pompey triallist Brandon Mason in Premier League action for Watford against Spurs. Getty.
Former Pompey triallist Brandon Mason in Premier League action for Watford against Spurs. Getty. | AFP via Getty Images
Former Pompey triallist Brandon Mason in Premier League action for Watford against Spurs. Getty.Former Pompey triallist Brandon Mason in Premier League action for Watford against Spurs. Getty.
Former Pompey triallist Brandon Mason in Premier League action for Watford against Spurs. Getty. | Getty Images
Fast forward four years and the Londoner is on the move again, but this time to the seventh tier of the game at the age of 27.
De Bruyne and Aguero to the Memorial Ground
Paul Johnson’s side are stepping up to the Southern League Premier Division next term after title success this season, with the left-back bolstering his squad last night.
It means Mason has dropped the pinnacle of the English game to Step Three of the football pyramid in eight years, with Johnson delighted to have landed a player of his experience.
He told Farnham’s official site: ‘We knew the left side was an area we wanted to address this summer, bringing in a player who is a natural down that flank and could add real quality to the side, and Brandon is exactly that.
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‘He’s been in the pro game, has played his entire career in the Football League or at the top end of the Non-League system and has enjoyed a great career so far.
‘That experience in the pro game is going to be big for us, bringing that into our dressing room and being a vocal leader in the group is something we’re looking forward to seeing Brandon add.
‘As a player, his quality speaks for itself and I expect him to settle in fast. He’s a great lad and I look forward working closely with him this season.’
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