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Academy Player of The Month: October

Dartford FC Academy Player of the month

DFC is proud to announce Dean Nayler as the club’s Academy Player of the Month for October.

Academy Manager Ben Greenhalgh picked out the defender for the accolade after some performances that have helped turn around the Academy White’s results.

Our new monthly award went to Blu Husthwaite for September, but Ben had nothing but praise for the season’s October winner.

He said: “Deano’s had a brilliant month for us. He had a bit of a stop-start first few months, he had quite a few opportunities in pre-season with the first team, but then he had a couple of illnesses that set him back.

“But as soon as he came back in, you realise what you get with him. He’s a die-hard defender who puts his body on the line at every possible occasion and he’s almost like a second goalkeeper at times. And he’s been like that this month.

“We’ve been a bit open as a team, where we’re back and forth and look like we are going to score a lot but also concede a few. As soon as Deano came back in, he’s like a rock. He can defend one-on-one and just always wins the battle.

“So, he’s the perfect player to have in your team. You know he’s always going to give you 100 percent and I think that’s why he’s getting opportunities in the first team at the moment and it’s good to see him involved with them and us.

“He’s probably the reason why we’ve been picking up results again and letting in less goals again, he’s almost like a second captain.

“It’s a privilege to have him in the Academy for one final year. But I’m sure we’re going to see him feature a lot more for the first team in the future as well.”

Dean will be presented with the award by chairman Steve Irving at a match this month.

Dean Nayler