BEN Gladwin has proved that perseverance pays off after finally achieving his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

The 21-year-old has signed an 18-month deal with Swindon Town after impressing manager Mark Cooper during a trial game against a Spurs development side last week.

He said: “The last two weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. My head is still spinning.

“I think they came to watch me three or four times and then offered me a trial.

“My first session with them was last Thursday [November 14] then we had the weekend off before we played Spurs on Tuesday.

“I played about 70 minutes before my legs went, but felt I did well. I got on the ball and wasn’t fazed by playing against higher level players.

“I heard they wanted to offer me something then, and on Thursday I signed the deal.

“I was expecting to get maybe six months because I’m a bit of a gamble, but they’ve given me 18 months with another year’s option.

“They’ve shown a lot of faith in me and my aim now is to establish myself in League Football.”

But the 6ft3ins Gladwin admits he did wonder if he’d ever get his opportunity.

He was released by Reading’s academy as a 13-year-old for being too small and after a stint at Hayes found himself playing with Marlow of the Southern League Central division.

He said: “If you ask my friends and family, they’ll tell you that I said I’d sign a pro deal within six months.

“But it did cross my mind that it wouldn’t happen when I went to Marlow. I thought, who is really going to watch this level?

“But I got a lot of inspiration from Ryan Bird signing for Portsmouth from Burnham, and I really started enjoying my football again at Marlow.

“I got a few phone calls from the next league up and Mark [Bartley, Marlow’s manager] got quite a few phone calls from Conference clubs, but it was always a dream to play pro football and I was confident I’d get there. I felt I was ready for it.”