FOOTBALL: Hamer signs new deal with Reading (From Chard & Ilminster News)

FOOTBALL: Hamer signs new deal with Reading

11:20am Wednesday 24th June 2009

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EX-CHARD Town youth keeper and former Holyrood School pupil Ben Hamer has signed an extended twoyear contract with Championship side Reading.

Having enjoyed another highly successful season on loan at Brentford, the Royals were keen to secure the 21-year-old stopper’s services after enquiries from several high profile clubs.

With the departure of their number one keeper, Marcus Hahneman, Hamer has been told that he will be vying for the number one shirt this season with Australian international team-mate Adam Federici.

Hamer played in all but one of Brentfords league games last season, which ended with them winning the Coca Cola League Two title.

Along the way he kept an amazing 20 clean sheets which resulted in him winning the Puma Golden Glove award for League Two and kept him in the Soccer AM’s Golden Glove top six alongside the likes of Edwin Van der Sar, Petr Cech and Pepe Reina.

Other highlights of the year include appearing in several live televised League and FA Cup matches and winning the coveted Cross Bar Challenge t-shirt on Soccer AM.

Hamer was also watched several times by the England coaching set up including head goalkeeper coach Ray Clemence and Reading were duly informed that he was in the top five in his age group along side the likes of Joe Hart.

He is now looking forward to the clubs pre season tour in Sweden and is hoping to appear in the showcase friendly against Chelsea at the Madejski Stadium on August 1 and further his bid for the number one shirt.

If he does succeed in his quest to become first choice then there is the prospect of playing away against Newcastle United on August 15 in the Magpie’s first home league fixture following their relegation from the Premiership.

Reading’s director of football Nick Hammond told the club’s official website: “We are delighted Ben is committing himself to us with this new contract.

“Ben has a lot of Football League experience under his belt for such a young goalkeeper. After his loans he now comes back to us to be very much part of our plans for next season and to contest for the jersey.”

Despite being only 21, Hamer has already racked up 115 career appearances, having spent the 2006-7 campaign on loan at Crawley where he was named their young player of the season.

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