Youth Development remains something that is very important to the long term development of our football club.
A worthwhile youth structurethough takes time to develop. The current programme at Firhill has been in operation now for four years and we are starting to see signs of that hard work paying dividends. Stuart Bannigan, scorer of one of our goals against Hamilton on the final day of last season, was one of the first inductees into the current programme and he has begun to emerge as an important component of the first team squad at Firhill.
Today we are delighted to be able to announce that a further three graduates of the Thistle youth development programme have joined the Club on a full-time basis.
It is a warm welcome, therefore, to Lee Gallagher, Jordan Leyden and Liam Lindsay, all of whom have signed two year contracts with the Club.
Jordan makes the step up from the Thistle under 16 side. A striker, Jordan has been part of Thistle’s youth set up now for three years. In addition to being a natural finisher, he is an intelligent player who links the play well.
Lee and Liam meantime both joined us at the start of last season from St Cadocs Youth club and were central to the under 17s run to finish runners up in the league last year.
Liam, nephew of former Jag Ricky Gillies, is a centre back who is very comfortable on the ball and performed with the reserves last season.
Lee is an extremely talented player who can play anywhere form middle to front and is very difficult to dispossess.
Said Head of Youth Development Gerry Britton;
“I’m delighted the boys have signed. This is an exciting opportunity for both the boys and the Club.”
