On Saturday, Tunbridge Wells had the ‘H-Factor’ as goalkeeper Callum Hampson and striker Jack Harris put pen to paper to sign first team forms. Both are highly promising products of the U16 set-up at the club, and have helped the youth team to a Cup final and into contention for a league title push. They become the third and fourth players to sign from the current under 16s squad.
“Callum has been with us since he played for the U13s,” Darrell Cousins, U16s Coach said. “He was a raw goalkeeper when he came to us, making a transformation after starting out playing as a centre forward for Ridgewaye - but you could see that he had talent. He is another player who works hard on his game; he’s been to Brighton on a six-week trial, and has had other clubs looking at him over the last two seasons. This last 18 months, he has really come on leaps and bounds with training from Greg Thurstans and also Michal Czanner.”
First team manager Martin Larkin has been impressed with Hampson’s application, adding that he has helped with the coaching of some of the younger goalkeepers moving up through the youth system at The Wells. “He knows the areas he needs to work on, and I’m sure he will do so - he certainly has the potential to feature in the future first team plans, and one day be the Tunbridge Wells number 1.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for me to develop further,” Hampson said. “I’m grateful to all the coaches that have helped me over the years - including at Ridgewaye, Greg Thurstans, Michal and all at Tunbridge Wells.”
Meantime, Jack Harris has already hit 15 goals for the U16s this season. Again, he has been with the club since he joined at U13s level, coming in from Tonbridge Invicta - a club that he is still thankful to for his time there.
“I had Jack watched during his Invicta days and was impressed with him - but I had to wait for him to come over to The Wells,” Cousins revealed. “It was worth it. Jack is a big, strong lad. It took him time to get his focus set purely on running the front line, but he has worked hard and is beginning to develop into an excellent forward.
“The extra training he has been given by the first team has brought him on no end. He still needs to work on some areas of his game - he knows that - but he has the right attitude to go and apply himself. Jack is the best forward I have seen doing what he does, and I honestly couldn't ask for any more from him. That’s why signing first team forms is important for his development at this stage. He still has a long way to go to be the finished product, but if he stays focussed I’m sure he can go all the way. Watch out seniors, Harris is on his way!”
“Both these boys deserve all the rewards they are getting, and its great to see them develop with Tunbridge Wells,” Larkin concluded. “A big thank to Darrell and his team for their hard work to identify and then develop raw talent over the years into potential prospects for the first team. That is very much a core value of this club both now, and moving forward into the future.
“These, and the other two recent promotions of youth team players should send a message to all talented youngsters in the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge area that we are a club committed to nuturing young talent and giving them first team opportunities.” |
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