IT is third time lucky for Andy Sandell after being given the chance to live the dream with a two-year professional contract at Bristol Rovers, writes ANDY CRYER.

The Swindon-born winger sealed a £5000 move from Southern League Premier Bath City earlier this week and then admitted he thought his chance had passed him by after two previous failed bids at the big time.

The 22-year-old had his first taste of rejection when released by Bristol City as a 16-year-old and then earlier this season a move to Swansea City collapsed due to an ankle injury.

Sandell is now looking ahead to his venture into the professional game and has vowed to make the most of the chance he thought he would never get.

He said: "It is all very exciting at the moment. Obviously after my experiences at City and then the disappointment at Swansea I began to think it just wasn't meant to be.

"Being released by City really hurt me because every young lad dreams of playing football professionally and when I didn't make it there, I began to think about what else I could do with my life.

"I have stuck at it, worked hard, and thought I had earned another chance with Swansea. When that didn't materialise I really thought that was it for me."

Sandell moved to Twerton Park from Paulton Rovers for £1500 last summer after helping them secure promotion to the Southern League.

In between that and being released from Ashton Gate, Sandell pursued a non-league career with Malmesbury and Melksham Town.

"The Bath manager John Relish has been brilliant," said Sandell. "When he signed me he said if I did my best for him he would do his best to get me my chance at professional football.

"The Bristol Rovers deal has come about very quickly but John has been on the phone a lot on my behalf."

Sandell was due at the club for a photo session and a chance to meet his new teammates today and will start pre-season with them in the first week of July.