Watford youngster Scott Holding has his old kitman to thank for setting up a loan move to Dover.

Richard Harvey has a foot in both camps, having served in multiple roles at Crabble before a stint as Hornets academy kit manager.

Harvey is back helping out new Whites boss Jake Leberl and engineered the deal for centre-half Holding.

“Rich set it up,” revealed the 20-year-old.

“He was the kitman at Watford and I get on well with him - he’s a good guy.

“He mentioned Jake was coming in and wanted to rebuild and get some form going.

“He knew I wanted to get out on loan and play men’s football and Jake wanted a centre-back, so it was perfect. It’s funny how football works.”

The move has worked out well, with Stockport-born Holding winning successive man-of-the-match awards and scoring his first goal in a 1-1 draw at Weymouth before Christmas.

He’s since been voted player-of-the-month for December.

Holding has impressed in the Whites backline and is enjoying the physical side of non-league football.

“It’s completely different, academy football to men’s football,” he said.

“It’s much more physical, whereas academy football is more ball-playing.

“At the end of the day, men’s football is what you’re going to come into as a professional so it’s definitely good. It’s what I needed.

“I love the physical side of it. I’m from up north, I’m from Stockport, so I love the physical battles.

“I’m a fan of playing out and everything but as a defender I love the one-on-one battles.

“I’m loving it here, especially with Jake. I’m enjoying my football. I’ve come for my development but I want to help the team.”

Holding experienced his first defeat since joining Dover when they lost 2-1 at Aveley last weekend.

An injury-time goal settled the match as the visitors missed out on a battling point in their fight for National League South survival.

Holding has called on Whites to put the late blow behind them when they meet Truro at Crabble on Saturday (3pm).

“I felt we defended quite well, so it’s an annoying way to lose,” said Holding,” who experienced first-team football at hometown club Stockport before joining Watford in 2022.

“But we’ve had a good little run so we can’t let our heads drop too much. We’ve got to learn from it.

“We can’t let ourselves go on a losing streak. We’ve got to keep at it.

“We’ve had a nice little run since I came in and let’s hope this defeat is just a blip. There’s no reason to panic.

“We’ve got a good group of lads but Rome wasn’t built in a day.

“Jake’s come in and we’ve just got to listen to what he says.”