Partick Thistle Football Club

Youth Development is an area that remains key to the long term benefit of Partick Thistle Football Club.

It isn’t, however, something that happens over night but we have over the course of the last few months seen positive things emerging from an often neglected area in the past. In the closing weeks of the season, we saw the first crop of players from the under 19 side pull on first team jerseys while the under 19 side won the SFL Youth Cup, defeating Livingston 3-2 in a thrilling final.

Earlier this evening, and in the presence of Head of Youth development Gerry Britton, Under 19 coach Ian Cameron, Chief Scout Bobby Dinnie and Club Chair Allan Cowan, the Club were delighted to complete the signings, on full-time professional contracts,  of two more young players for whom the Club have very high hopes.

Signing on the dotted line were strikers Shaun Fraser and Jordon McGrotty (pictured below with Shaun on the right).

Shaun had played a big part in the success of our under 19 side, particularly in the second half of last season while Jordon is a brand new addition to the Thistle set up.

Both were naturally delighted to have taken the first steps in what we all hope will be long and successful careers as Partick Thistle players and www.ptfc.co.uk took the opportunity to catch up with the two new Jags.

Said Shaun;

“I’ve just sat my Highers so that’s me finished school now and I can’t wait for pre-season training to start later this month. I was part of the under 19 side last season and winning the SFL Youth Cup was awesome. Some of my team mates from that team have already featured in the first team and it is a real incentive to see the likes of Kieran Burns progressing. That’s something that I obviously want to do as well and while I have been in training at the Club for a few days here and there being in every day will really help my fitness.

Jordan meantime had the following comment to make;

“It’s great to have signed full-time for Partick Thistle and I can’t get wait to get started. I know that young players have already been given the chance in the first team here and knowing that really gives you the incentive to try and do the same.”

As pleased as the two young lads were to have signed for the Club so too was coach Ian Cameron (pictured below with the boys and Gerry Britton) whose tutelage the players will be under for the next two seasons at least.

“These are two young players that we think have a good chance to progress in the game. They are obviously talented players but talent itself can only take you so far. You need to have the right kind of mentality as well. What we are trying to do here is bring in players that have the mindset to work hard and improve and in Shaun and Jordan, and others, we think we have young players that have that mindset. As well as being good footballers they are good lads as well. ”

“Shaun played with the under 19s last season and did really well while Jordan was a player that was brought to our attention by Gus Black one of our scouts. We had a look at him in a game last Wednesday night and I was really impressed with him. He has a good left foot and is quick.”

“We saw last season some of the under 19 side break into the first team in the closing weeks of the season. Our hope for the coming season is that those players, and others, can take things on to the next level and play not just in the end of the season games where there isn’t a lot at stake but also in the important, pressurised games as well. Being a successful player is all about handling well that type of game.”

Finally Club Chair Allan Cowan welcomed Shaun and Jordon to the Club.

“We are delighted to have brought both lads to Firhill. We hope to see them, firstly, breaking into the first team before going on to have long and illustrious careers at Partick Thistle. There is a good team spirit at Firhill and I’m sure Shaun and Jordan will enjoy their time here.”

Meantime still on the subject of youth development our under 14 side enjoyed a 2-0 win over Stirling Albion in their latest fixture on Sunday afternoon.