Gillingham’s young midfielder Harry Waldock hopes to build on a season to remember and play a part in the 2026/27 League Two campaign

Gillingham youngster Harry Waldock will return from his summer break full of confidence after a breakthrough campaign - but knows he still has plenty to prove.

The 19-year-old academy graduate made seven appearances in League 2 after breaking into the first-team picture under boss Gareth Ainsworth towards the back end of the season.

Waldock appeared in all three of Gillingham’s Vertu Trophy matches before making his Football League debut in March during Gills’ 5-0 defeat at Cambridge United.

Despite the team’s struggles, the midfielder kept his

place and started six league games before the end of the campaign.

Now enjoying his summer rest - and trying to improve his golf game - Waldock says he is determined to build on the experience when pre-season begins.

He said: “I know that there’s going to be big competition for places in the team, not only with the amount of players we have, but with the quality of players we have.

“Coming back in and trying to impress in pre-season is quite an important thing for me.

“Realistically, I know I’m still young, I’m still young in the game. So, to try and show him (Ainsworth) what I can do in pre-season is one of the main ways I feel I can show my abilities.

“Once the season comes around, if I have a good pre-season, you never know what can happen.”

Waldock insists his mentality will remain unchanged despite his first taste of League football.

He added: “Last year, I still had the same mindset. I went into pre-season thinking that ‘this is my opportunity to show the management team what I can do and what I’m about’.

“There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be thinking the same.

“It’s not that I should be thinking that I’ve already made my stand and I’m fine now. I still need to prove why I