The waiting is finally over for Deren Ibrahim after he was confirmed as Dartford’s
first-choice goalkeeper for this season.

Ibrahim joined the Darts as a nine-year-old and has played for them 37 times since making his first-team debut in 2008/09.

The majority of his senior career has been spent on loan with lower-league clubs but he filled in for Jason Brown at the end of last season and now the goalkeeper’s shirt is his.

Dartford manager Tony Burman said: "Del’s No.1 and he knows that.

"I’ve had many phone calls about goalkeepers but I’m giving him that opportunity.

"He knows the situation. He’s got to keep that place and I’m going to give him that opportunity.

"At the end of the season, in the 15-odd games that he played, in some of those games he was excellent. As an all-round keeper, he’s good enough.

"He’s now the ripe old age of 24 and he’s got a lot of experience. He’s won two leagues with two different clubs and been involved with us for a long time."

Ibrahim has served his apprenticeship with spells at Sittingbourne, Margate, Maidstone, Leatherhead, Tonbridge and Phoenix over the last seven years.

He said: "I feel like it’s been my time for a long while but it hasn’t been. I love this club, I work for the club and been here since I was nine.

"As long as I can help the club, I will. If I sit on the bench, I’ll support whoever’s the goalkeeper but this year I want that No.1 spot. I feel I showed enough last year and want the shirt.

"I know how much work I’ve put in on the training ground every week through the summer and I can take that into games.

"I’ve played for Maidstone and Leatherhead and I’ve done well.

"Now it’s about getting a chance here and showing everyone what I can do."

Read the full story in the Dartford Messenger.