New Ramsgate goalkeeper Aiden Prall says he was devastated to learn of Tom Hadler’s serious knee injury.

Prall has joined from Sheppey as the replacement for Hadler, who suffered an ACL injury on the day Rams clinched the Isthmian South East title at Hythe.

He has big shoes to fill at Southwood, with Hadler facing months on the sidelines.

“I was devastated when I heard about Tom’s injury,” said Prall.

“I got to know Tom three or four years ago now, he’s a really nice bloke, and what a horrendous injury, and in the way it came about, in the height of celebration and then bang.

“I’ll be wishing him well and hoping he makes a full recovery as quickly as possible because no one deserves to be injured, especially someone of his character.”

Prall, 26, arrives at Ramsgate after earning plaudits aplenty throughout an excellent three-year spell at Sheppey.

He helped them reach the FA Cup first round for the first time in their history and was named man-of-the-match as the Ites faced League 2 Walsall on live TV.

The former Corinthian goalkeeper signed off at Sheppey by being named in the Isthmian South East team of the season.

Rams boss Ben Smith is a long-time admirer of Prall, telling chairman James Lawson he would be the man he wanted should Hadler be unavailable.

“He mentioned that to me when we spoke,” said Prall.

“He’s always been very complimentary.

“Whenever we’ve played against Ramsgate, or I’ve played against one of Ben’s sides in the past, he’s always gone out of his way to come up to me to say ‘you played very well today’ or ‘you should be playing higher.’ He’s a very nice bloke.

“You’d be lying if you said you don’t pay attention to it when people say things because it’s always nice to get recognition for what you’re doing.

“It shows the character of someone when they’re taking their time to come over and say how well you’ve played.”

Prall’s move to the Isthmian Premier new boys means he will be playing Step 3 football for the first time in his career.

It’s an exciting prospect for the goalkeeper, particularly at a club as progressive as Ramsgate.

“There will be some nerves, too, but that’s always a good thing because it keeps you grounded and down to earth and you don’t let the step up go to your head,” said Prall.

“Any team that wins the league and you get a message from them saying they want you to be their No.1, it’s hard to turn down.

“I had a modest amount of interest during the summer but as soon as Ramsgate called, it was a no-brainer to me.

“I’ve always wanted to try and play as high as possible and I’d back myself to play at the highest level possible.

“So once that platform became available, especially at a club like Ramsgate, with the way they play, the way they’re run, and the fanbase, it’s a club with a real buzz.

“It’s a natural progression that, as you go up the leagues, the players get a little bit sharper and a little bit quicker.

“But, for me, it’s 11 blokes against 11 blokes at the end of the day.

“The ball stays the same shape, the goal stays the same size, so I’ve just got to do whatever I can to keep it out of the net.”

Ramsgate have signed forward Ryan Kingsford from last season’s title rivals, Sittingbourne.

Kingsford, who had an offer of full-time football in National League South, is the third player to make the move from the Brickies, after Mitchell May and Donvieve Jones.