Town new boy Kane Vincent-Young has hit the ground running since his £500,000 pre-deadline move from Colchester and is the living proof that rejection from a big club need not spell the end of a young player’s dream of becoming a footballer.
Vincent-Young spent seven years with Tottenham’s famed academy but when the time came to hand out the professional contracts he was instead sent on his way along with several other teenagers looking to put the setback behind them and attempt to resurrect their careers.
"It’s never easy, especially at that age,” said the full-back or wing-back who has captured the hearts of Town supporters with his marauding displays and two goals, which came in successive games at Milton Keynes and at home to Gillingham last weekend. "It’s difficult to deal with and you need good people around you, which I had.
"But you also need the determination to prove you can get back to where you want to be and I had that as well.
"From my experience it’s not easy and you can’t do it without a good family and group of friends around you. You need them there — win, lose or draw.
"I wouldn’t say I have a point to prove to Spurs — not at all. I’m not the first player they released and I’m not going to be the last.
"It’s more about what I want to do for myself and the people around me. No, I’ve nothing to prove to Tottenham.
"Harry Winks was in my age group there and he has gone on to do really well to establish himself in the first team squad and also play for England.
"We’re still really good friends. Kyle Walker-Peters is another really good friend of mine as well and he has broken through too.
"There are also a lot of us around the different leagues as well. Just because you don’t make it there doesn’t mean you haven’t made it.
"It’s great to see so many boys from my age group still playing in the pro game today — that’s still a success in my eyes.
"It’s not easy but it happens a lot. When you are a group of young boys at a big club like Tottenham the reality is that you are not all going to make it to the first team — maybe not even one of you — so the fact that some people have reached that level is great.
"But the fact that some people have still managed to forge a career elsewhere for themselves is great as well.”
A dinner appointment meant Vincent-Young was unable to attend the recent Carabao Cup-tie between his two former clubs when the League Two U’s triumphed in a penalty shoot-out to add to the woes of the north London giants, runners-up to Liverpool in the Champions League Final just four months ago.
Vincent-Young added: "I was at Colchester for five years so I’m close with a lot of the players there. They are friends outside of football as well and it’s great to see that they are also doing alright as well.
"I couldn’t get to the game but it was a great result for them and I was delighted for the players and everybody at the club. They are good people and it’s nice to see good people do well.
"I had a fair bit of time with Tottenham. I joined them when I was 11 and didn’t get offered a professional contract so I was released when I was 18 and went over to Colchester [following a shot spell in non-league with Banbury].
"But in terms of experiences and stuff like that, playing all over the world and alongside some really good players, making some lifelong friendships, it was still a great time for me.”
It didn’t take long for Vincent-Young, whose two Colchester appearances this season prior to his departure took his club tally to 126, to become an instant favourite with the Town fans. A toe problem delayed his debut until the 5-0 away win at Bolton but he has been ever-present in League One since then.
He said: "The run of games has helped me to get consistency and feel comfortable in my new environment, so it’s been great for me.
"How does it compare to League Two? It’s definitely a step up and physically it’s more demanding. There’s a bit more quality as well but at the same time you can see that a lot of the players here have played at a higher level.
"I’ve got a licence to get forward and add to the attack. That’s one of the manager’s big things, having the width from the full-backs and getting them to provide a good outlet.
"One of my strengths is running with the ball and he’s okay with that as well, so it’s great that I am able to play to one of my main strengths. For as long as I can remember I’ve always enjoyed dribbling with the ball.”
Vincent-Young is not at all surprised by his early success as a Town player. "Well, I know I’m a good player,” he continued, "but I have come away sometimes thinking ‘That was really good’ and hopefully I can keep that up.
"But everybody has made it so easy for me to settle in and the way I’ve been allowed to play is to my strengths, so it’s been great to be able to do that.
"And I’ve got to mention the fans because they have been great. I see a lot of the messages on social media but I can’t get back to all of them. They do make me smile, though, and I really appreciate them. The fans have been absolutely brilliant.”