Carlisle United’s latest crop of under-9 players completed their contract signings remotely this week as they joined the club under strict socially distanced guidelines.
The boys would usually put pen-to-paper on the pitch, ahead of kick off at the first game of the season, but the onset of Covid-19 means they will have a wait before they can take their place on the Brunton Park surface.
Congratulations to the following ten players, who have all now joined the Blues:
Aston Davies (GK)
Tom Hodgkinson
Oliver Grainger
Matthew Hodgson
James Jenkins
Lucas Neto
Joshua Zaninetti
George Woodcock
Freddie Parker
Frazer Phillips
Lead Foundation Phase coach Robbie Edgar said: “In previous years we have had the new under-9s sign their contracts on the pitch, but with Coronavirus restrictions we haven’t been able to confirm that this would be possible.
“Therefore this year we have done a socially distanced signing, with a socially distanced game of Footgolf to celebrate. Hopefully, when things go back to normal, we can get them playing on the pitch in front of the Brunton Park crowd at half-time to make up for it.
“Getting into our Academy is by no means an easy task, and we have been following some of these players since they were at the under-7 stage.
“It’s a massive achievement for them to make it into our under-9 squad, and from the friendly games at Preston, Blackpool, Newcastle United and Sunderland they played pre-lockdown we are very excited about this group.
“Our under-9 squads seem to be getting stronger and stronger every year now, probably due to our improved local scouting network, enhanced pre-Academy games programme and the Development Centres we’ve set up all around Cumbria.
“Academy coaches Gareth Agnew and Neil Dickinson will coach the under-9s this season and they tell me they can’t wait to get these boys started.
“Good luck lads, have fun and enjoy yourselves.”
