A graduate of our youth set-up, stopper Rylee Mitchell signed a pro contract with Boro’ towards the very end of the 2022-3 season. The timing was perhaps notable by the fact we’d earned promotion to League One with a game still to play. With it came an opportunity for boss Steve Evans to add some rising stars to the first team squad. And, with a trip north to Barrow on the horizon, Mitchell was one of two players to make a step up from the academy. And he’d remain around the fringes of the first team for the following handful of campaigns.

It was somewhat pertinent when we confirmed Mitchell’s signature, given our goalkeeping strife during the second half of that 2022-3 season. In all, we ploughed through seven over the course of the campaign. While the youngster arrived just a tad late and a little young to do something about it, but still. First, his coming of age (as it were) gave us a benefit of having another stopper on the scene. Two, time was still on his side. And, at 6’4 tall, he offered a fair command of his area; something that’s always nice to see in your goalkeepers… no?

Rylee Mitchell: After Boro’

Of course, the expectation in the first instance was that he’d would go out on loan down the divisions to pick up some senior action. And that’s what he did; gaining experience and seeing action while with Potters Bar Town, Royston Town, and Oxford City in a trio of separate loan spells. When back here, he’d deputise on the bench for the first team on more than one occasion too. There was definite eyes on the lad too. And, in summer 2025, Mitchell earned himself a cracker of a move up the pyramid; leaving us for Norwich City in exchange for an “undisclosed fee”.