Forward Harry Jessop is looking to build on the three substitute appearances he made towards the end of the season, as he already looks ahead to the forthcoming campaign.
The 18-year-old made his senior league debut away at Morecambe, before a further two showings off the bench, including his home debut on the final day of the season.
Speaking to iFollow Iron about remaining at the club for at least another season, and reacting to his first year as a professional footballer, he said: “It’s another year at the club and another year where I can get some more game time and become a better player again.
“It was rough at the start. It’s different to the Under-18s. It’s more the intensity in training and keeping up with it. I was coming home tired and sleeping all the time. I finally eased into it and got onto the bench and made my debut. It was good overall.”
In the early part of the season, before the lower leagues null and voided their season due to the ongoing pandemic, Jessop found himself on loan at Northern Premier League side Pickering Town.
Scoring on his debut, the forward would notch a further two goals at the club in a total of eight appearances, giving him the taste for open age football he’d yet to experience.
“They were all fine at that club, so it made it a lot easier,” he continued.
“It was just minutes for me because there weren’t many Under-23s games. It got me playing and scoring goals.”
The former Sheffield Wednesday youth player is nearing a decade with the Iron, having signed for the side at Under-10s level.
Speaking about the road he’s been on to get to this stage, he stated: “It’s been a big journey. There’s been a lot of ups and downs.
“There were times when I didn’t think I’d get a pro contract and I did, and then there were times when I didn’t think I’d get an extension, but I have done. It’s been a long time, but I’m looking to keep on pushing.”
Jessop already has his sights set on pre-season, and is aiming to come back fitter and stronger, and more prepared than last season. The fact he’s been given a taster towards the end of the season has made him even more determined.
“It was hard (last season) because of how big the squad was and because of how many good players we had in the squad,” he added.
“I’ve been given a taster and makes me even more ready for next season. I want to come back fit and I want to just get going now.
“I’ve started back. We were handed a training plan which starts in June, but I’ve started a week early. You do need your rest and to switch off though. I just want to see how it goes. No one knows what’s going to happen and I don’t know whether I’ll be in the squad or not. It’s about trying to get into the squad and then go from there.
“The manager said I was training well, so that’s how I got my chance. I’ve got to keep doing that, impress in training, and hopefully I’ll get my chance again.”
See more from Harry Jessop on iFollow Iron.