Hard work, dedication, self belief and humility have paid off for Milai Perott, who has signed his first professional contract with Notts County.

The Bermudian goalkeeper moved a step closer to realising his long-held ambition of showcasing his talents between the posts after agreeing to the terms of an undisclosed deal offered to him by the League Two club.

“It has always been a dream of mine to be a professional,” Perott told The Royal Gazette. “Now that it is actually signed and confirmed I am just ready to kick on and see what else I can do to get another contract after that.

“It’s just the beginning but it feels great to actually sign a professional contract, especially my first one.

“I tell myself every day to keep my feet on the ground and stay humble; it’s a long journey and I can have a 20-year career if I really want it and keep motivated. So I have to keep humble, remember where I came from and remember the opportunity that I have now to keep going forward more and more."

The 20-year-old has made a seamless transition since joining the club’s academy last year and left a good impression on the coaching staff playing with the B team and under-18 team.

“The club is lovely. It’s like one big family and it was easy to adjust and go in and enjoy my football there,” he added.

“Everyone will bring you in like they have known you for years and it’s just very easy to settle. It made it easy for me to settle in and play my football.”

Perott has already had the opportunity to train and travel with the first team, including away at Lincoln City in the Football League Trophy, as well as a league clash at Crewe Alexandra last year.

“Training with the first team is obviously different to training with the under-21 team,” he said. “Seeing that level made me realise what I want to go to, so it makes me want to work harder which makes playing with the under-21s a bit easier to know that I am good enough to be there and to push on.

“I always had the belief I could get a professional contract. I always believed in myself, and obviously the coaches saw that as well from my performances from last season, so I am just glad that they took notice.”

Perott is a product of the FCV International Football Academy, in Leicestershire, where young players between the ages of 14 and 21 combine full-time training with first-class education in the hope of joining the paid ranks.

He was a part of the academy’s Football with Education programme, where those who are successful come away with a BTEC Extended Diploma – the equivalent of three A levels – and a pathway to higher education for degree study.

The promising player played a key role in the semi-professional senior team, who feature in the Nottinghamshire Senior League first division as FCV Grace Dieu.

Prior to venturing overseas in pursuit of a career as a professional footballer, Perott groomed his skills playing with Dandy Town youth teams from age four and was initially a centre back before transitioning into a goalkeeper.

“I started going in goal at some point during the game and also playing outfield,” he recalled. “But then I really started to like being a goalkeeper and started going to coach Cooper’s camps (former X-Roads Warriors and BAA goalkeeper Dashun Cooper) and got better at being a goalkeeper. I really loved it and I just stayed in goal and worked at my craft there.”

Perott’s outstanding exploits in goal have not gone unnoticed back home having earned his first call up to senior national team duty for the ongoing Concacaf Nations League in Antigua & Barbuda.

“It’s obviously good to represent Bermuda,” said Perott, who has also represented the island at the under-15, under-17 and under-20 levels.

“It’s great and I always thought about this moment for a couple of years now, how I wanted to be a part of the team and even if I wasn’t playing I still want to be there.

“Now that I am here I just want to absolutely work my way up the ladder getting information and keeping on working hard with the team and who knows maybe some day I can be the No 1.”

The Gombey Warriors suffered a 3-2 defeat against ten-man Dominican Republic in their tournament opener at the weekend but are determined to bounce back with a more favourable result against the host country today.

“Everyone is motivated, have their heads down and are really going to push on for that three points,” Perott added. “It’s looking promising and it’s all good vibes here.”