It has been quite the first year at the club for Rory Harrison. The youngster joined our academy after a six-year spell at Championship side Rotherham and has featured regularly in the FA Youth Cup and earned his senior debut.

Despite joining the club in the pandemic, Harrison has enjoyed all aspects of the academy.

He said: “I’ve found my first year at the club different due to the pandemic but other than that I’ve really enjoyed myself.

“I think the club has been great due to restrictions, they’ve handled everything really well.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given so far, I just need to carrying on working hard and keep practising and keep taking information from the coaches.

“The education side of it has to happen as well, all of us want to be outside playing football but education is key. I think Sian (Judge, academy tutor), has been great and the lessons are planned out really well.

“It’s no stress, it’s all laptop work and it’s all about sport. We just have to keep up to date on the work and hand it in on time or we’ll miss out on football.

The youngster was also full of praise for academy coaches Steve Chettle, Callum Chettle and Josh Law.

“I think the coaching staff have been brilliant,” He added. “Being coached by ex-professional football players every day is great, it doesn’t get much better than that.

“They know their stuff about the game so I learn a lot every day. I think the way they go across the game analysis of our opponents is always correct. They set out the best team for that game and have a plan and it’s paying off. We’ve upset a couple professional clubs in the FA Youth Cup and in friendlies as well.

“They control the group well, we always have a laugh but it can be serious as well so it’s a great balance.”

Two of those teams that our academy side upset were Port Vale and Grimsby Town, as we knocked them out the FA Youth Cup on the way to setting a third round tie up with West Bromwich Albion, which ended in a 4-0 defeat.

And the run is something Harrison has enjoyed.

He said: “I think the FA Youth Cup run has been fantastic you know. It’s a big competition for our age group everyone wants to be involved in it Being one of the last non-league clubs still in it is a credit to ourselves, coaching staff and the club.

“The best game so far in my opinion has to be the Lincoln United game. Coming back from 2-0 down to 2-2 and then I take the penalty to put us through into the first-round proper is a big moment in all our careers that will remember for a long time. I think that game really showed how close of a team we are and how we can fight for each other and get the win. The best moments are the celebrations after the game of course.”

Impressing in the FA Youth Cup, as well as in academy and under 21 matches, Harrison made his first team debut as a second half substitute in our FA Trophy win over Alvechurch, something which he will never forget.

He said: “Making my debut was a great feeling for me and my family, it’s just another box ticked off the list. I’m just eager for more of it now and just got to keep working hard.

“I appreciate the opportunity Steve Chettle gave me, being involved with the first team and making my debut. It just feels the same as if I was in the academy, all the players are welcoming, the preparations are the same so I don’t feel out of place and it feels normal.

“Just being on the bench and watching the first team players play, how they move the ball, the little movements to create space, the quality they’ve got is high and that’s what I want personally.”

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