The rise of Rotherham United prospects Nat Ford and Joel Holvey

YOUNG prospect Nat Ford topped a memorable April by signing his first professional contract with Rotherham United.

The teenage goalkeeper came close to making the Millers’ Championship matchday 18 for the trip to Bristol City when senior shot-stoppers Viktor Johnasson and Josh Vickers were struggling with injury.

He followed that up by putting pen to paper on a deal that will make him a first-year pro next season along with fellow academy graduate Joel Holvey.

The Rotherham-born 18-year-old, the son of former Millers keeper Stuart Ford, has been with the Millers since he was nine and is already a familiar face to the senior squad.

A stand-out performer for the side that reached the final of the Youth Alliance Cup, has been working out this term with Johansson, Vickers and number three Robbie Hemfrey —under the expert eye of coach Scott Brown.

“Nat has spent a lot of time with the goalkeeping department, as a training keeper primarily,” manager Matt Taylor said. “His displays for the under-18s have been excellent. He’s quite mature and is a good size, so he’ll add to our already strong goalkeeping department. He certainly deserves the opportunity.”

Attacker Holvey, also 18, moved to the Millers from Middlesbrough two years ago and has impressed despite having his campaign interrupted by injury.

“He’s an extremely talented player, an excellent technician who can really handle the ball and play off both feet,” Taylor said. “He’s got a little bit of growing to do but we’ll give him that time to develop.”

Ford and Holvey have signed one-year contracts that Rotherham have an option to extend by a further 12 months. They become the second and third youngsters to agree pro terms this season.

They follow in the footsteps of centre-half Hamish Douglas, who was among the substitutes when Rotherham won 1-0 at Sheffield United in November and was given a two-and-a-half year deal a month later.

Academy chief Richard Hairyes said: “We’re in a position now where we can see a real production line of talent coming through and a pathway to the first team too.”

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RICHARD Hairyes still remembers the day Rotherham United fought off a clutch of other clubs to land a player he describes as a “special talent”.

Two years ago, forward Joel Holvey, then aged 16, was leaving Middlesbrough and had a number of teams keen on his signature.

“We had a good contact at Boro who recommended him to us,” said Millers academy head Hairyes.

“He played in a trial game and there were more scouts there than I’d ever seen at a match. We managed to get him ahead of everyone else.”

The Hartlepool-born youngster excelled in his first year as a Rotherham’s youth and also caught the eye when he featured under previous first-team manager Paul Warne in pre-season friendlies last summer.

Injuries have since hampered him but new boss Matt Taylor and his coaching staff still thought he was worthy of the pro deal, signed last week, that means he will be part of the senior set-up next term.

Joel Holvey signs pro terms

“When he’s played he’s been excellent,” Hairyes said. “Thankfully, the first-team people have been able to see enough of him to give him this opportunity and we’re really excited to see how he gets on because he’s a special talent.”

Holvey was on the bench for the Millers' last-day Championship 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic and came on late in the second half for his professional debut.

Another academy product, goalkeeper Nat Ford, who has also signed on as a first-year pro, is already training in Rotherham’s senior ranks.

“He’s conducted himself very well with them,” Hairyes said. “His contract is just reward for all his hard work.”