FORMER Brightlingsea Regent starlet Rob Harvey is still pinching himself after a whirlwind few weeks since signing professional terms with Millwall.

The highly-rated midfielder penned a contract on July 23 and, after some appearances in pre-season, made his competitive debut for the Lions in Monday's under-23 Professional Development League match against Sheffield Wednesday.

It was the latest development in a "mad" few weeks for the former Colne Football Academy protege and now he is looking forward to going from strength to strength with the Championship side.

“It’s been a whirlwind few weeks and hasn’t really sunk in yet," Harvey told the Gazette.

“I’m really enjoying it and it’s been great playing and training in a professional environment every day.

“Everyone has been really lovely and so encouraging.

“My family and friends have been supportive and I had lots of nice ‘well done’ messages on the day the news was released.

“It was a very proud moment.

“I love it already and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it’s going to progress, because I just want to keep doing this all the time.

“(First-team manager) Neil Harris has been great.

"Every time I’ve spoken to him he’s been full of support.

“The whole environment has been first-class, to be honest.

“All the coaches and the players, from the first team through to the younger ones, have been perfect and so professional. I couldn’t ask for more.

“It’s always been my dream to be a professional footballer and I’m still pinching myself that this has happened.

“It’s been great fun and a lovely feeling, although it's mad and I still feel like I’m on trial.

"I can’t believe I’ve actually signed a pro contract and now I just want to kick on and do as well as I possibly can."

Despite his age, Harvey has already experienced highs and lows in football, including injury heartache.

He feels he knows what is needed to make the grade and says he is determined to work hard and give everything to make his big break a success.

“I think the plan is for me to be with the under-23s this season but I’m going to work as hard as possible and take as much as I can from training with the first team (the two sides train alongside each other at the same base in Bromley)," said Harvey.

“My plan is to work hard, keep my profile high, play well and show them what they want to see.

“Hopefully that might get me in and around the first team which is where I want to be eventually, obviously.

“I felt like I worked very hard to get to that point, having had one injury that led to another last season.

“There was a lot of rehab but I worked hard, with a lot of help, to get myself ready.

“I’ve seen what it takes to get this far and I know it’s going to be twice as hard to take it further, but I love the challenge.

“I always want to know what I can do better and I’m already getting lots of information from Millwall.

“There’s lots of knowledge there. The communication is great and the instructions are clear, which suits me down to the ground.

“Everyone just wants to help each other."

While excited about the future, West Bergholt-based Harvey says he will never forget his roots and the grounding he received at Brightlingsea.

He was back at the club recently to watch their recent Tolleshunt D'Arcy Memorial Cup victory against Tiptree Heath.

“I wouldn’t have a bad word said against Brightlingsea," said the former student at Colchester’s Philip Morant School and College.

“Everyone has been so great in helping me get to this point.

“I owe them a lot and I love spending time at the club. It’s been a big part of my career.

“(Former manager) James Webster showed faith in me a couple of years ago and since then everyone has been great.

“They’re like a family and it’s a great club to be at, in terms of giving me a springboard.

“It’s a good squad and there’s definitely potential for more players to be spotted.

“(Current boss) Tom (Rothery) and (assistant manager) Pip (Boyland) have taught me so much and all the youngsters coming through here have got a great chance of really kicking on.

“There’s always people watching and with the right guidance, you can go a long way.

“Brightlingsea will always be in my heart and I’ll always keep tabs on what’s going on down here.

“Whenever I’ve got a day off, I’ll always be back because everyone – the players, management, board and fans – have always been so great to me.

“It’s great to see the club doing so well.”