Former Millwall goalkeeper Ryan Sandford thankful for the opportunity to get his career back on track with National League South Dartford

Goalkeeper Ryan Sandford is grateful for the chance to rebuild his career at Dartford.

The ex-Millwall man played his first competitive game in almost a year when he made his Darts debut in an FA Trophy Second-Round tie against former club Maidstone on Saturday.

Sandford, 24, was on loan at United from Millwall when he suffered a dislocated shoulder in a National League game at Woking in December last year.

He’d been in terrific form before the injury, winning the player-of-the-month award and keeping three clean sheets in six full appearances for Darts’ Kent rivals.

He was released by the Lions at the end of last season and was linked with several clubs in the summer, holding talks with Dartford and Maidstone, among others.

Understandably, he wanted to see what was out there in the Football League and trained with AFC Wimbledon before signing a short-term deal in October as cover for international duty.

Sandford became a free agent again last week and Dartford made their move. He went straight into the side as Darts were beaten 1-0 by an injury-time Maidstone goal.

“Thankfully, I’ve been given this opportunity to come to Dartford and get playing, so I’m really appreciative of them for having me in,” said Sandford.

“I signed for a month at AFC Wimbledon because one of the senior lads was away on international duty, so they needed another senior lad in the building.

“I was there training at the time so all the pieces of the puzzle fitted into place.

“I did a month there but I’d been training there pretty much from August onwards so I was fit and ready to go, wherever I ended up. They were good to me and now I’ve come down here to play some games at another fantastic club.

“I came in for my first training session on