Brighton have moved ahead of a number of other Premier League and Football League clubs to take a 16-year-old prospect on trial.
Attacking midfielder Olly Allen of Dorking Wanderers has joined the club on a trial basis with his manager highlighting the ‘ bright future’ ahead of him.
Allen comes from a footballing background, with his father Steve Allen having served as the Physiotherapist for AFC Wimbledon and Bristol City as well as Assistant Manager for a short period alongside Guy Whittingham at Portsmouth.
The midfield dynamo has only been with the Wanderers’ around six months where he has been noted for his progression, including his promotion to first team training since December where he impressed the manager alongside scoring in the teams friendly fixture against AFC Wimbledon’s U23’s side.
While Dorking would love to keep the youngster at their award winning academy, known to be one of the largest of its kind in the south of England, manager Marc White would not stand in his way should a professional team come to elevate his career into the higher tiers of English football.
Allen left AFC Wimbledon to join the academy, having caught the eye of multiple teams since his transition and is guaranteed a National League contract should his current spell at Brighton not prove fruitful.
White explained “Olly is an attacking midfielder, who has an eye for goal. He is a good size for his age and has been training with the first team for the past month and has impressed in friendlies during that time”.
Brighton is reportedly not Olly Allen’s first offer, however White wasn’t interested in farming him out across the country, however their close links to the seagulls meant that they were happy for the trial to take place.
There is believed to be plenty of confidence in Allen’s ability to compete at the required standard.
