Ben ready to be mover and Shaker by Royals appointment

10:11am Friday 20th June 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Brentford keeper Ben Hamer is confident last season's horror show against Bury will not be on his mind when he starts the campaign at Gigg Lane in August.

The 20-year-old gifted the Shakers a third goal in a crushing 4-1 home defeat in March that ended faint hopes of a run to the League Two play-offs.

Hamer was subsequently dropped in favour of Simon Brown after 12 straight games in possession of the gloves, a stretch that included an eight-game unbeaten run.

But the former Bourne-mouth youngster bounced back to feature in defeats to promoted Hereford United, who also inquired about his services for next season, and Stockport County.

And he reckons the faith boss Andy Scott has shown in him by making him his first-choice keeper for the coming campaign means he can start the season in confident mood.

"The game against Bury was a bad day for me," he said.

"I made mistakes for the first two and then laid on the third one, but I think I have shown I have a strong enough character to bounce back from that.

"I was dropped after that game but the experience has made me tougher and I think I have come back stronger for it.

"That defeat won't be on my mind come the start of the season."

Scott spent five months in talks to land his man after the Reading shot-stopper produced a string of fine performances on loan last year, including a match-winning display at Barnet.

Hamer turned down two offers of a new contract with the Royals before finally signing a new one-year deal at the Madejski on Tuesday.

Once given the green light to go out on loan, there was only ever going to be one destination, but he has not given up hope of making his mark with the team who gave him his break in professional football.

"There were a few other clubs interested in me this summer, but Andy showed a lot of belief in me last year and it was only going to be Brentford for me," he added.

"Although I have made some mistakes, the Bees fans have been behind me.

"I have a good rapport with them and got on well with the lads in the squad.

"I am comfortable with where I am.

"I have been with Reading for so long - since I was 15 years old - I wouldn't want to leave without having played for the first team.

"Hopefully, I can do well at Brentford this year and it might happen for me."