Football: Gap Connah’s Quay promote seven Academy players to first-team squad

Apr 28 2011 by Alec Doyle, Flintshire Chronicle

SEVEN players from Gap Connah’s Quay’s Academy have been promoted to the first-team squad for next season.

Under 18s duo Wyn Pierce and Steve Belli have signed first-team contracts and they have been joined by U17s players George Baxter, Ryan Jones, Aled Reece, Shaun Tinsley and Jamie Wynne.

Baxter has already made waves this season, making his first-team debut and scoring, while Reece and Wynne have both been included in matchday squads in recent weeks.

Although this group of players already train with the first team on a regular basis, their signing as senior players will hopefully see them push for more starting places.

With the first team hoping for a swift return the Welsh Premier League at the end of this season, the promotion of talented youngsters will boost Mark McGregor’s resources while providing valuable experience for the players who have progressed through Jay Catton’s successful Academy set-up.

More football on pages 94 and 95.