Championship side Millwall have recruited an exciting prospect from Chatham Town.

Youth player Finley Cotton has been signed on a two-year scholarship deal with the London side.

It’s another sign of the growing stature of the ambitious Southern Counties East side and Chats chairman Kevin Hake is delighted to see one of their own being targeted by a top Football League side.

He said: “Fin signing for Millwall is testament to all the great work that that everyone connected with the Chats youth has achieved in such a short space of time.

“Only three years ago we had one Kent Youth side and we now have a full compliment of teams at every level of Kent Youth and an academy with over 40 scholars playing in the National Youth Alliance League.

“We have a DNA on how to play the ‘Chats Way’ and a youth system that will rival Football League Clubs.

“Carl Laraman (director of football) and Scott Lindsey (first team manager) have been integral in setting up this system and as a result this, in my opinion, will be the first of many players who will be progressing through the youth system at the Chats going to Football League clubs.

“Youth will always will be the lifeblood of this club and we are now achieving great things as the best players around are coming to Chatham Town to work with our coaching set up to further develop their game.

“On behalf of everyone at the club we wish Fin all the best going forward.”

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