Congratulations to Academy player Bailey Cotton who has signed for Millwall.
The under 15 player has signed on the dotted line following a trial period at the Championship club.
Bailey follows in the footsteps of older brother Fin, who joined Millwall as an under 16 last year before securing a two-year scholarship in the spring of 2021.
A SEFA player for over six years, Bailey’s journey is one of a talented player showing immense determination and recovering from setbacks; as an under 11 player he trialled with Millwall but was not offered a deal, then a year later Charlton Athletic came knocking, but again a contract was not forthcoming after a trial period.
Despite these disappointments, Bailey continued to work hard and established himself as one of the best players in the area outside the pro club system, training weekly with SEFA alongside his club commitments. Millwall then approached Bailey once again earlier this year, and this time the midfielder deservedly secured a contract at The Den.
SEFA director Rich Radbourne said: “All at Soccer Elite FA are absolutely delighted for Bailey, a lad who has been a constant at our Academy for a number of years.
“This for me is a great example of a player who never gave up following their dream. Bailey has been with SEFA since under 9s, and during this time we have placed him with a number of clubs due to his ability in and out of possession.
“He previously trialled at Millwall and Charlton but wasn’t successful, but both times he returned to SEFA and continued to develop and improve as a player and person, and we always felt Bailey would eventually earn his shot at a professional club owing to his tenacity and desire along with his excellent individual skill.
“Enjoy your experience mate, keep going and take your game to the next level!”
