FORMER Colchester United midfielder Bradley Hamilton says the chance to become part of Concord Rangers’ fairytale climb up the football ladder helped persuade him to join the Conference South new boys.

The midfielder, who was on loan at Chelmsford City last season, has agreed a deal with the Beachboys, who were promoted to the second tier of the non-league game via the Ryman Premier play-offs last month.

The 20-year-old admits he’d love to get back into the pro game but says, for now, he’s relishing the chance to help the Canvey club build on their run of three promotions in six seasons.

He said: “I spoke to (Concord manager) Danny Cowley and he told me about how much success they’ve had here, and I want to be part of that.

“You only have to look at what Concord have achieved over the past six seasons to see they are a club on the up.

“I played at this level last season with Chelmsford so I know what it is about, and I believe Concord can do well.”

Hamilton, below, can play in midfield, right back or central defence – although he feels he’s not tall enough to make centre back his best position.

He made his Football League debut as a substitute for the U’s against Tranmere in April last year under former manager John Ward but found himself out-of-favour when Ward was replaced by Joe Dunne in September.

He said: “Things were going well at Colchester and then the new manager (Joe Dunne) came in and he had different ideas about how he wanted to do things. I had a conversation with him and he said it would be best to move on because it might be hard to get first-team football there.”

Concord have a good record of helping former professionals move back up the football ladder – most notably current Falkirk star striker Lyle Taylor – and Hamilton admits that helped persuade him move to Thames Road was the right one for him.

“If I did not want to get back into the pro game then I think there would be something wrong,” he said. “But for now I just want to work hard and help Concord achieve more success.

“If something comes up in the future in terms of a pro club then that is something we will look at, and I know this is something Danny Cowley is supportive with.”

Hamilton arrived at Concord alongside keeper Jamie Butler, who joins from Ryman Premier side Met Police, where he is the reigning player of the year.

Butler helped Met to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup last season and played a key role in a league campaign in which they only missed out on the play-offs on goal-difference.