“I’ll never forget them and will always be a supporter at heart,” admits Dean Bouzanis as he reflects on departing Sutton United for Reading in the summer.
Joining from Melbourne City in August 2020, it has been an incredible few years for the 31-year-old goalkeeper – enjoying promotion to League Two and a Wembley appearance before leaving to make the step-up to the Championship.
Speaking exclusively to London Football Scene, Dean Bouzanis said: “Winning the National League was a massive achievement and a huge moment for the club after 127 years as a non-league side.
“Obviously the game at Wembley stands out as well, and we were so unlucky to miss out on the Play-Offs in our first season in the Football League.
“There’s just so many moments at Sutton that makes me so grateful to have spent two fantastic years there.”
Yet despite the record-breaking memories, Bouzanis failed to agree terms on a new contract at Gander Green Lane, instead signing a three-year deal at Reading to fight for the first-choice goalkeeper jersey alongside fellow new recruit Joe Lumley.
And although his appearances may have been limited so far, it’s a move he has no regrets in making.
“The two years at Sutton were hugely successful, I played a lot of games and that allowed me to come to Reading,” Bouzanis said.
“Obviously every footballer wants to play but I’m realistic – it’s a big step-up, I’ve jumped two leagues, but I’m here to push on and show what I can do.
“I played against Middlesbrough (in the league) and thought I put in a decent performance and I’ve just got to be ready for when the time comes.”
Having initially arrived in English football to join Liverpool’s Academy at the age of 16, Bouzanis played alongside now Reading team-mate Tom Ince during the side’s 2009 Youth Club final defeat to Arsenal.
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It’s a friendship that has continued over the years and perhaps a reason why Bouzanis was already on Reading manager Paul Ince’s radar (Tom’s father) long before the goalkeeper’s Sutton contract was coming to an end.
On the move, Bouzanis added: “I was in contract talks with Sutton for a while but an offer didn’t come for a few months which took me to the off-season.
“Reading had been watching me play and he (Paul Ince) got in touch saying he wanted to bring me in. Once that was the case, it was too hard an opportunity to turn down.
“Reading are a massive club, they’ve been in the Premier League and it just felt the time was right after all the hard work at Sutton.”
Bouzanis is clearly relishing the challenge that lies ahead as Reading, tipped for Championship relegation, have enjoyed an excellent start to the season.
It may even turn out to be a similar ‘odds defying’ story which Bouzanis experienced at Sutton – on which he has no doubt what made that Us side so successful…
“It’s run by good people and that filters down throughout the whole club – it really is a family club,” said Bouzanis.
“The board, the management and the players are all pulling in the same direction, – the unity and togetherness is amazing.
“It’s a fantastic club with a lot of good people and my two years there were amazing.
“I’ll never forget everything they have done for me, wish them all the best and will always be a supporter at heart.”