Published: Friday, 19th June, 2009 11:10am

Hamer pledges future to Royals

by Anthony Smith

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BEN Hamer has signed a new two-year contract at Reading after turning down a permanent move to Brentford.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper spent last season on loan with the Bees and was a mainstay in their side which won the League Two title.

Their manager Andy Scott wanted to make the move permanent so he put together a deal that would tempt highly-rated Hamer away.

But the youngster has decided to stay at the Madejski Stadium and fight for a place in Brendan Rodgers" first team.

With Marcus Hahnemann now at Wolves, it means Hamer faces a battle with Adam Federici for the keeper"s jersey next season.

Royals director of football Nick Hammond said: 'We are delighted that Ben is committing himself to us with this new contract.

'Ben has a lot of Football League experience under his belt for such a young goalkeeper.

'After his loans he now comes back to us to be very much part of our plans for next season and to contest for the jersey.'

Hamer helped the Bees gain promotion by winning the League Two championship in May.

Former Royals Alan Bennett, who has now been released, was also a regular in their side and is now being linked with Southend United.

Hamer put in some eye-catching performances and he won the Puma Golden Glove award as the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the division.

In all, he played 49 games for the Griffin Park club last season and he also made 21 appearances for them during two previous loan spells.

Despite his relatively young age, Hamer has racked up 115 career appearances already, having spent the 2006/7 campaign on loan at Crawley Town where he won their Young Player of the Season award.

ALL FOOTBALL League teams can name seven substitutes next season instead of five as part of a new initiative.

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