Ebbsfleet United are delighted to welcome Academy goalkeeper Harrison Firth to the squad, with the 17-year-old rewarded for his progress this season by being registered for first-team duties.

Firth played in the Kent Senior Cup for the club last season and in 2020/21 has grasped his training opportunities alongside Dennis Kutrieb’s first-team squad with both hands.

Most recently, he played in friendlies against Dorking Wanderers and a QPR XI, playing 50 minutes and keeping a clean sheet in the latter game and beaten only by an own goal in his 45 minutes against a strong Dorking side.

Firth, who has been handed the No.13 squad number, will provide short-term cover for Jordan Holmes, with Tom Hadler currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Speaking after his appearance against Dorking Wanderers, Firth said: “I’ve been in training so have got to know the lads. It helps me massively, the experience with Jordan Holmes there as well, talking me through it, it’s been really good and everyone’s really helped me out.”

Daniel Gill, Fleet’s Academy manager, added: “This is a great reward for the dedication and hard work that Harrison’s put in. It’s fantastic for the other lads to see as well, one of their own making a step up and making that sort of progress.

“And it’s not just been Harrison either, Dennis has had Issa Sidibe in the side recently and before that Emilio Regini-Moran and Warren Beattie. Those kinds of links with a pathway for progress are so encouraging for us and the way the management team and first-team boys have welcomed those young players in means many more can strive for that sort of achievement.”