Bermudian Aaron Gardiner moved a step closer to his dream of a professional football career when in signing a first contract with semi-pro club Hartley Wintney.

The 18-year-old Bermuda Under-23 player was thrilled to have been offered a first-team deal at The Row, where Hartley Wintney play in the Isthmian League South Central Division.

“I’m very excited about signing with the first team,” said Gardiner, a product of North Village’s youth programme.

“This has been a goal of mine since I joined the academy and finally I’m reaching my goal after a bit of a setback with my injury.”

Despite being elevated to first-team status, the young midfielder hungers for more, noting this to be only an initial step.

“Although I have signed it is only the beginning of my journey,” he added. “I still have to prove myself at that level and fight for a spot in the starting line-up.

“I’m still looking to impress and develop to push on and go higher in the game.

“Even though I have signed for the first team which is a good achievement for me, it’s still not my end goal. It’s a small step in the right direction. I still believe that with my dedication, application and hard work I will continue to go in the right direction.”

Gardiner will continue to turn out for the club’s under-23s in order to maintain match fitness and make the first-team bench.

“By the end of the season my goal is to be in a position where I’m starting for the first team,” he said. “My recent form has been good, but for my standards I can still be better.

“I didn’t think I had a great game for my first game of the season but according to my coach I was excellent. Whilst this is a positive I see it as a baseline for me. My minimum expectation for each game is to be excellent and I think that’s the way I have to be to get to the next level.”

One of the players main proponents, his father, Craig Gardiner, was likewise pleased with his son’s progression.

“He’s excited to be signing as it’s the next step in his goal process,” said Craig. “When he signed at 16 he told the coaches his goal was to be in the under-23s when he was 17 and the first team by the time he was 18.

“So he’s on track for his goals, but for Aaron this is just his first step of many and he’s dogged in his determination to play pro football. He also believes that he can add value to the squad and bring additional quality.

“He’s very goal-oriented about his football. He is absolutely driven to play league football and believes he has the qualities to do so. It is an achievement he is proud of, especially having lost five to six months to the fractured shoulder and torn cartilage, but it’s only his first accomplishment and he’s already focused on the next one.”