Robins interested in signing Acey

The 17-year-old Guernsey FC midfielder has spent the last couple of weeks with the Robins, playing a couple of times in central for their under-18 side against QPR and Swansea and then, on Tuesday afternoon, getting 75 minutes for their under-23s against Charlton Athletic.

He has impressed the Robins coaches sufficiently for them to discuss offering the youngster a deal.

‘It’s great news for him,’ said Guernsey FC manager Tony Vance.

‘He went over for a week, which I arranged, and then they wanted to keep him on for another week.’

Vance added that Acey ‘has impressed them not only technically, but physically too’, with the running stats he has produced particularly eye-catching.

If an agreement is reached, Acey would be following in the footsteps of another former GFC teenager Alex Scott, who has become a first-team regular at Bristol City.

However, Vance refused to be drawn on how far he thinks Acey can go.

‘At the end of the day, he has got an opportunity and I’m not going to put any pressure on the kid,’ he said.

‘But one thing I noticed with Alex is that whatever environment you put him in, he rose to it and embraced it.

‘So far with Ben, when he first got a chance at the Priaulx League, he jumped at it and embraced it. He then came to GFC training, again took it in his stride despite it being a difficult environment for a young lad, broke into the squad and then broke into the team.

‘Now he has gone to Bristol City and impressed there so he has taken those progressive steps, which is vital.

‘There is still a lot to learn for Ben, but he is in the right place.

‘I think it shows what platform playing for GFC can provide. It also shows there are no gimmes – you have to earn the right, which Ben has and so did Alex.’

Vance also had a special word of praise for Acey’s local club Northerners

‘North have played a huge part in Ben’s journey and have been very supportive in progressing him to the next level, so they can be very proud of his achievement.’