Sam Hatton is yet another member of a successful youth system that produced players for Boro’ during the mid-2000s at a healthy enough rate. Given a squad number at the start of the 2005-6 season after breaking through the season before, he didn’t actually see any first team action that term. He was, however, retained going into the 2006-7 campaign; fuelling hopes he’d continue his development here.

But an increasing amount of loan spells suggested it’d be unlikely the midfielder would become a permanent fixture in the side. Hatton was, therefore, allowed to move on in 2007 by Mark Stimson. Hatton moved to South London, first signing for AFC Wimbledon.