The future looks bright for three York City youth players, who have all been offered pro deals by the club
After announcing the retained and released list for the senior team, City have turned to the youth team as manager Martin Gray makes early preparations for a huge rebuilding job at the club this summer.
Flynn McNaughton, 17, and 18-year-olds Harry Thompson and Josh Rogerson have all been offered professional contracts after performing well for the club this season.
Striker McNaughton was drafted in to the senior squad by Martin Gray in the midst of a strikers injury crisis at the club. In games against Chorley, Harrogate and Nuneaton, the youngster did himself justice with a string of positive performances.
Academy graduates Thompson and Rogerson have also been offered professional contracts with the Minstermen.
Meanwhile a lengthy list of youth players were released by the club, including second year academy scholars Josh Berry, Aaron Haswell, Noah Jackson, Joe Kemp, Zac Lawrence, and Joe Wilton.
Attitude and commitment
Neither Thompson and Rogerson are yet to experience senior football, but have been impressed in their performances for the reserves, most notably in the 3-3 North Riding Senior Cup Semi-final draw with Middlesbrough u23’s back in March.
Thompson scored a wonderful looping header in that game to put York 3-2 ahead (above), but the reserves eventually went out on penalties after conceding a last minute goal.
Academy manager Mark Spencer was keen to point out how the huge amount of progress made by the three youngsters to earn their pro deals.
Spencer has warned there will be no rest for the wicked if trio want to play professional football for years to come, saying:
All three have performed really well this season. They have all shown the attitude and commitment needed to do well in the game.
They will not be allowed to rest on their laurels now. They will all need to come back in the summer and push for a first team spot if they want to earn more years as a professional footballer.
If the three youngsters agree to the terms, they will join 16-year-old winger Vinny Steels, who recently formed part of an 11-name-long list of first team players retained by the club for the new season.
| Retained list for next season: |
|---|
| GK Adam Bartlett, GK Ryan Whitley, RB Josh Law, CB Hamza Bencherif, CB Dan Parslow, LB David Ferguson, CM Sean Newton, CM Simon Heslop, CM Adriano Moke, LW Vinnie Steels and ST Jon Parkin. |