JAMES Bransgrove admits he feels like a “weight has been lifted off his shoulders” after making a surprise decision to leave Colchester United and quit football.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who made his professional debut for the U’s on the final day of last season, has hung up his gloves and will pursue a career in business and away from professional football.

Bransgrove, who spent nearly four years at Colchester, will begin a new role as a trainee finance administrator in the Jobserve Accountancy department next month.

He will work full-time there while he is studying for his university degree, which will allow him to apply his studies to his new full-time job where he work under Jobserve founder Robbie Cowling.

Bransgrove said: “It’s a bit unheard of and a bit of a one-off – not many young players will do it.

“It’s something that I’ve had on my mind for several months.

“It’s something I thought a lot about over the summer when I had more time over a reflection period.

“I received my first university results back and they were very positive.

“It was an eye-opener and it made me think that there was more to life than just playing football 24/7.

“I’ve had to mull it over and I spoke to (U’s goalkeeper coach) George Bankole, (U’s first-team head coach) John McGreal and (U’s director of football) Tony Humes and got it all out there and told them how I felt and where I wanted to go.

“I asked to leave the club two weeks ago and they gave me the weekend to think about things and mull it all over.

“I went back in on the Monday said that my decision was made.

“I needed to get myself out of that environment.

“When I did that, I felt like a weight have been lifted off my shoulders.

“It’s a very big decision and probably a one-off.

“The club has been great but from a personal point of view, I didn’t want to look back and regret not making this decision.

“The chairman has offered me a fantastic opportunity, which I’ve accepted.”

Bransgrove made two first-team appearances for Colchester, making his debut in their 2-1 defeat against Rochdale on the final day of last season and then following that up with an appearance in the Checkatrade Trophy this season against Southampton under-23s.

He added: “I’ll look back on my three and a half years at Colchester with fond memories and there were achievements.

“Not many people can say that they’ve been a professional footballer who has played in the league and there’s a certain amount of prestige in that.

“I’m proud to say that I’ve been a professional footballer.”