Teenager Louie Procopi remains ambitious to play as high as possible - a year on from his trial at Premier League Brentford.

Procopi, then 17, had only just joined Ramsgate from Margate when the Bees spotted him in a pre-season friendly.

There was also interest from Gillingham and Stockport in the young centre-back who only started playing football aged 11.

He returned to Ramsgate and spent most of the season on loan at Canterbury in Southern Counties East Division 1 as they battled for a play-off place.

Procopi has now joined fellow Isthmian South East club Hythe after leaving Ramsgate, where he aims to continue his development under ex-AFC Wimbledon midfielder Sammy Moore.

“I was talking to a couple of clubs before pre-season and Sammy sent me a message saying he wanted me over at Hythe,” said Procopi, 18.

“I thought it would be a good idea because he’s played at a high level and I think he’s someone who could develop me, so Hythe seemed the best choice.

“They seem like a club that will play young players and give us a good chance, so I thought it would be a good opportunity for my development.

“I want to play as high as I possibly can and, as long as I’m working as hard as I can, I see no reason why I can’t play at whatever my best level is.

“Anything’s possible. I’m still young. I don’t want to be looking back in 10 or 20 years thinking I could have done more.”

It was a whirlwind summer for Procopi a year ago.

He hadn’t expected to be in the first-team picture at Ramsgate, never mind attracting interest from Brentford.

But then-boss Ben Smith included him in friendlies and he was soon on his way to west London.

“The pre-season was crazy,” he said. “I only went to Ramsgate to play for the 23s - I didn’t have the first team in my mind.

“I started getting 90 minutes in friendlies then we played VCD away and some guy came and spoke to me in the bar afterwards and said Brentford were interested.

“I spent two weeks at their training ground in Hounslow and then we had a holiday booked, so I went away.

“I went back in and by the end of the trial I wasn’t what they were looking for but I thought I did really well.

“I was nervous at the start but after the first day, once I’d got to know everyone and the coaches had made me welcome, I was fine. It was more the atmosphere that felt so different.

“It was so professional. You were served food in the canteen and all the kit was set out for us. It just felt so different to anything I’d ever done before.

“Everyone welcomed me back at Ramsgate, Ben and the rest of the team, but by then I think they’d got another centre-back so it was more competitive to get minutes.

“Eventually I went out on loan and played basically the whole season for Canterbury, which was good.

“We just missed out on the play-offs but I felt I needed that full season of appearances under my belt.”

Procopi’s progress is testament to his hard work and commitment, having arrived late to the game.

It just shows what can be achieved in a short space of time.

“I’m still catching up because I started playing so late,” said Procopi.

“I started playing at 11, which is so late compared to everyone else.

“When I was young I didn’t want to play. I didn’t feel I was good enough.

“My dad always tried to get me to play but I’d play rugby and do running instead.

“Then I hit 10/11 and just started loving it.

“I’ve been making massive progress - I just want to be the best I can be.”