Left-sided defender Hayden enrolled on the education and football programme with the Dorking Wanderers Academy at the age of 16, completing his A-Levels with academy education partners Ashcombe School alongside the football side of the programme.
Involved with the Dorking Wanderers B team and flagship National League Academy South U19 side since beginning with the academy, the positive start and impact Hayden made in his first season led to inclusion in the first team squad which travelled to face Yeovil Town in the FA Trophy 3rd Round tie in December 2022.
Rocked by a serious injury during B team action which ruled him out until into the start of the following campaign, Hayden’s first game back in 23/24 would be in the FA Youth Cup 3rd Qualifying Round where Wanderers overcame Welling United away from home on penalties after drawing in normal time, and it was an especially memorable comeback for Hayden who scored the decisive penalty in a 7-8 shoot-out win. Hayden continued to feature the FA Youth Cup in the following round’s at home to Worthing FC and then away to Cheltenham Town as Wanderers matched their previous best run in the competition by reaching the second round proper.
Operating as a left-sided centre back or wing-back, Hayden played regularly for the Wanderers B team last term as they went on to finish 3rd in the Southern Combination Division One (Step 6) for the third consecutive season, and was also instrumental in the flagship National League Academy South side, which included a number of other graduates such as Jack Saunders, Joel Brown and Mason Myles.
Delighted to sign a professional deal with Dorking Wanderers, Hayden says:
“It’s every aspiring footballer’s dream to sign a professional deal and naturally I’m pleased to have taken that next step after the two years with the academy. My time at the academy gave me the foundations to achieve a first class education and develop as a footballer exponentially, and I would like to say thank you to Jordan Clark, Mr. Blackband at Ashcombe School and all the teachers and coaches for their unwavering support throughout the past couple of years.”
Director of Football Jordan Clark adds the following:
“I’m delighted for Hayden – he is the pinnacle of what we have been trying to achieve over the last several years through our academy pathway. We have had many successes educationally and on the field as a group, but to see an individual develop and grow in the shape of Hayden gives us great confidence in our development strategy. Along with his peers, this has been a real landmark time for the academy and we look forward to watching Hayden develop and the future of the pathway continue to flourish.”
Dorking Wanderers CEO Jonathan Bines also says:
“Hayden is indicative of the ever-shortening gap between our youth/academy pathway and the senior set up which has been overseen by Jordan Clark, Richard King and Richard Webber. The club is seeing home grown youngsters get closer to regular first team action which is of course what every club aspires for. Hayden is very advanced for his age – someone who we have high hopes for. In the short term, Hayden’s first ever senior loan will be with our friends Bognor Regis Town, where he will continue to develop under them through to Christmas.”
Hayden will be joining Bognor Regis Town for the imminent start of their league campaign and will remain on loan with The Rocks until Christmas whilst continuing to train with the Dorking Wanderers first team.