It was a bittersweet day for Tom Hadler last weekend.

The 21-year-old finally got to make his Gillingham debut but ended up on the losing team.

A 3-0 defeat to Blackpool wasn’t the kind of outcome he would have dreamed of.

He said: “I hope I showed what I could do, in what were difficult circumstances, in terms of the game and the result. It wasn't one that we as a team were happy with but you can only do your own personal job.

“You try and do everything you can but sometimes it doesn't happen. I was pleased with how it went, just minus the result.”

Hadler first signed pro terms with the club in the summer of 2015 and has had to wait patiently for his chance.

He was told in training on the Thursday that he would be in goal.

“I was delighted,” he said. “To get that opportunity is something I have dreamed of for a while.

“I am really happy and thankful to everyone that enabled me to do it, especially the gaffer (Steve Lovell) for giving me the opportunity. I really appreciated it.”

He wasn’t short of support from the stands when the day came.

“I am super lucky to have such a big supportive family,” said the former Simon Langton Grammar School pupil.

“I had my dad, brother, girlfriend, uncles, girlfriend's mum, the whole lot and my grandparents, they come quite regularly and sit over in the Gordon Road Stand. My grandad likes to sit over there so he can say what he likes!”

His parents were the first to find out he would be playing at the weekend.

He said: “I kept it to myself after being told at training. I didn't call or text anyone, I just slipped in into the conversation when I was at home.

"My dad nearly choked on his dinner and my mum nearly fell over!

"I felt comfortable and that's the biggest positive to take.

"I played my normal game and the biggest compliment for me is for people to have said that I looked assured."

Read the full interview in this week's Medway Messenger.