Gillingham goalkeeper Tom Hadler has today signed a new two-year deal at the club.

It will keep him at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium until the summer of 2018.

“I’m relishing the opportunity, and hopefully I can really progress over the next two years,” he said.

“I feel like I’m ready to step-up and push for a place in the first-team.”

The 19-year-old, who has had loan spells at Folkestone Invicta , Tonbridge Angels, Grays Athletic and Gloucester City, initially joined the Gills as part of the club’s schoolboy programme.

Hadler left aged 15 to concentrate on his studies, and completed his A-Levels at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in 2014.

He rejoined the club’s academy – initially on a part-time basis – during the 2012/13 season, and signed a one-year professional contract last summer.

He added: “I stayed at school to finish my A-Levels, so I feel the last two years were my time to really push on and develop. Hopefully I’ve done that and I can put into practice everything I’ve learnt next season.

“Justin Edinburgh has been fantastic since he came in; he’s looked after me and kept on encouraging me to improve. He’s been really supportive and hopefully I can repay his faith in me in the forthcoming years.”

Hadler is the third Gillingham player to agree at new deal at the club this summer, following neo-pro Darren Oldaker and Emmanuel Osadebe.