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1718 burnley younger signs contract 1000x500Early in the 2015/16 season, when the youth team were playing their home games at Burnley Belvedere, a young player came on as a substitute in one game and I’d no idea who he was.

“Any ideas?” I asked. “It’s Oliver Younger, he’s an under-16,” came the reply from a gentleman stood to my left. The answer was, as it turned out, as reliable as it comes, it came from his dad Adrian. That was the first time I saw Oliver play but I’ve seen a lot more of him since in the youth team and, this season, in the under-23s and given his performances I’m not at all surprised by today’s news that he’s signed his first professional contract.

He’s signed a two year deal with a further 12 month option in the club’s favour and his under-23 coach Michael Duff said: “He deserves the two years and the chance to progress further. He’s an under-18 who has played in the under-23s all year and kicked on again from last year.

“He hasn’t rested on his laurels. He’s worked hard and now he’s got an opportunity. It’s up to him now to try and take that and forge out a successful career here.”

Younger, from Skipton, has been with Burnley for over a decade and said: “I’ve been here since I was a little kid, so it’s a dream. Going through your scholarship you see the difference and demands of going to be a pro and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.

“Physically, technically and tactically I think I’ve come on this year and I want to continue that. Hopefully I can cement my place in the under-23s, maybe go out on loan in a couple of years and get some first team experience and progress from there.

“The dream after coming all the way through the academy is to get into the first team and hopefully make a career out of the game at the best level I can.”

This is an article I’m really, really pleased to be writing. It’s always superb news to see one of the young players getting a professional contract and for Oliver even more so given he’s a Claret from a family of Clarets.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Oliver the very best as a professional at Burnley Football Club.

 

The picture shows Oliver with mum and dad Tracy and Adrian is courtesy of Burnley Football Club.

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