West Ham starlet Nathan Mavila will always be grateful to Wealdstone for taking a punt and giving him his first real experience of men's football.

The first year pro at Upton Park had enjoyed just 65 minutes of football for the Premiership club's U21s this season when Stones' boss Gordon Bartlett agreed a one-month loan deal to take the winger on a month's loan to The Vale in January.

The deal was subsequently extended to a second month due to expire after this Saturday's visit to Havant & Waterlooville.

Mavila has brought much needed pace and some flashes of brilliance to Stones as they have hauled themselves to the safety of mid-table in their debut season at step two of football's pyramid.

For his part the 19-year-old is pleased to have just been given the chance to further his education.

"I was not getting much game time at West Ham, so it was quite hard getting clubs to take me on loan as I did not have those minutes under my belt, he said.

"So it would have been a gamble for some of them, but luckily for me Wealdstone said they would take me and I'm grateful to them for that."

Mavila's football journey has taken him from the parks of Brixton through district level with South London, followed by four years in the Wycombe Academy, before heading east to the Hammers.

The physicality of Conference South games was initially a culture shock for the diminutive South London-born teenager, but under Bartlett's encouragement and guidance he has blossomed and shown glimpses of a devilish final ball.

"The gaffer reminded me at half time in my first game against Chelmsford of my strengths and let me know I could take the game in my own hands really. He was really supportive and positive with me.

"This men's footballl is obviously not Premier League standard, but at the same time you do learn a lot from it.

"There is the other side of the game for me which is defending. You get a lot from it physically as well and you tend to make better decisions because you are playing against people who get on your touch more, so you just have to adapt.

"It has been a challenge with and without the ball really, because when you haven't got it you have got to be switched on and when you have got it then it is your time to show what you can do."

The time at Wealdstone has meant being able to temporarily swap his digs in East London for the comforts of home in Brixton with his parents who he cites as the biggest influences on his career to date.

It's reminded him however famous football may make you, you will always be a little boy to mum and dad, but there are the benefits of mum's cooking and alll in all he is glad to have had the chance to be home.

He added: "They are telling me what to do again just like the old days, but it's great as they look after me."

Sadly Mavila's latest appearance in Wealdstone blue could not save the men of the Vale from a shocking 4-1 home defeat to strugglers Bishop Stortford on Saturday.

A Jefferson Louis penalty was as good as it got for the hosts on a day branded embarrassing by boss Gordon Bartlett.