Brodie was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear and grew up in the town as a Sunderland supporter.
He attended Whickham School and played football for the Gateshead district team as a teenager.
He later played youth football with Whickham Fellside Juniors from the age of 10 to 16, Redheugh Boys Club, scoring six goals in a 14–2 victory over Consett Badgers in March 2004, and the Durham County under-18 team, featuring in the FA County Youth Cup in November.
Brodie started his senior career in 2004 after making substitute appearances for Whickham in the semi-professional Northern League Division Two before playing for them permanently aged 17.
He scored a hat-trick for Whickham in a 5–3 victory over Marske United in November 2005.
He scored 21 league goals in 35 appearances for Whickham and was their top scorer in the 2005–06 season.

Brodie moved to Northern League Division One club Newcastle Benfield in the summer of 2006 and became a popular player at the club.
This move came after impressing Benfield manager Paul Baker in a match between the teams, in which Brodie impressed with his physicality.
While playing semi-professionally, Brodie took a part-time apprenticeship in joinery and later worked as a full-time joiner.
He scored the first goal for Benfield in a friendly against Newcastle United in September, which finished as a 4–3 defeat.
Brodie scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Cammell Laird with a direct free kick from 25 yards.
He helped Benfield to victory in an FA Vase tie against Castle Vale in December by scoring their second goal in a 2–0 victory, which set up a fifth-round tie against Truro City.
He was taken on trial by Premier League team Bolton Wanderers and he played for them in a juniors tournament in France, which ended unsuccessfully after he was played out of position at centre back.
He scored three goals in 11 league appearances for Benfield.
Brodie was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear and grew up in the town as a Sunderland supporter. He attended Whickham School and played football for the Gateshead district team as a teenager. He later played youth football with Whickham Fellside Juniors from the age of 10 to 16, Redheugh Boys Club, scoring six goals in a 14–2 victory over Consett Badgers in March 2004, and the Durham County under-18 team, featuring in the FA County Youth Cup in November. Brodie started his senior career in 2004 after making substitute appearances for Whickham in the semi-professional Northern League Division Two before playing for them permanently aged 17. He scored a hat-trick for Whickham in a 5–3 victory over Marske United in November 2005. He scored 21 league goals in 35 appearances for Whickham and was their top scorer in the 2005–06 season.
Brodie moved to Northern League Division One club Newcastle Benfield in the summer of 2006 and became a popular player at the club. This move came after impressing Benfield manager Paul Baker in a match between the teams, in which Brodie impressed with his physicality. While playing semi-professionally, Brodie took a part-time apprenticeship in joinery and later worked as a full-time joiner. He scored the first goal for Benfield in a friendly against Newcastle United in September, which finished as a 4–3 defeat. Brodie scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Cammell Laird with a direct free kick from 25 yards. He helped Benfield to victory in an FA Vase tie against Castle Vale in December by scoring their second goal in a 2–0 victory, which set up a fifth-round tie against Truro City. He was taken on trial by Premier League team Bolton Wanderers and he played for them in a juniors tournament in France, which ended unsuccessfully after he was played out of position at centre back. He scored three goals in 11 league appearances for Benfield.
Richard Brodie (footballer)