Six Sky Blues apprentices sign deals from the Academy to kick off their professional development
Coventry City Academy signed six new apprentices yesterday ahead of the 2014/15 season and Academy manager Richard Stevens hailed it as the start of a brand new journey for the youngsters.
Sixteen-year-old's Jordan Shipley, Bassala Sambou, Jay Albini, Callum Maycock, Jacob Whitmore and Corey Addai all penned two-year apprenticeships with the club at the Sky Blue Lodge in Ryton on Monday, marking the start of a full-time dedication to their professional footballing careers.
Stevens said signing day is always a day that both players and his staff look forward to. Watch the video of signing day at the bottom of the page!
"These boys all work to get to this moment of an apprenticeship contract and for us as staff as well it's always something we look forward to because some of these boys have been with us since the age of eight or nine years old," he said.
"It marks the end of an initial long journey and the start of an even bigger one for them because they go from five sessions a week with the club, living their days in a school classroom to coming into the club full time and living the life of a professional footballer.
"The days are long, their output has to be good throughout and they also have to balance that with education and their physical and tactical development but this is what they have been looking to achieve since they first joined us."
With ten Academy apprentices or former graduates having been involved with Steven Pressley's first team this season, Stevens added that a clear pathway into the first team would be a great incentive for his young players.
"These players at Coventry City will get the opportunity to get into the first team, if they show that they are good enough, so we brought them and their parents to Ryton to show them the environment and meet the staff because this is where they will spend alot of their time if they can continue their development."