Trio of City’s rising stars sign new Crescent deals

8:10am Wednesday 7th May 2008

Comments (9)   Have your say »

YORK City teenage trio Andy McWilliams, Liam Shepherd and Josh Ratcliffe have all signed first-year professional contracts.

But defender Danny Stimpson - the other youth-team player to be offered a pro deal last month - has decided to ply his trade in Swedish football instead.

Left-back McWilliams featured in all of the Minstermen's last five matches of the season, starting in the final four.

Winger Shepherd made four substitute outings during the campaign while Ratcliffe is yet to taste first-team football.

His fellow centre-back Stimpson, meanwhile, will leave KitKat Crescent also without a senior game under his belt.

City manager Colin Walker said: "Macca and Shep have been knocking on the door for a while so they were two certainties to be offered deals from a while back. Macca's performances at the end of the season suggested he can be in the first-team squad rather than an emerging pro so that's good.

"Shep's got plenty of promise and we will get into that next season. He can be unstoppable at times and we've got to nurture that by making sure he does the right things in the right areas. He's a York lad who's proud as punch to be signing for the club.

"Josh is a centre-half with pace who's played in most of our reserve games and has got better as time's gone on.

"He's got a lot to learn but there's always a little risk involved with giving out pro contracts and I'm hoping that when he comes in full-time he will learn from the other pros."

From Back Page Walker added that he felt Stimpson's decision to seek new pastures might have been down to financial considerations.

He said: "We made him an offer and he turned it down.

"I've only just found out but I wish him all the best.

"It might have been a financial thing because we don't offer lots of money to our young players and he maybe felt he could do better elsewhere."

Meanwhile, City are only £3,000 short of the target needed to guarantee youth-team football is fully funded at the club next season.

Further donations from supporters over the weekend means £7,000 has now been raised since an appeal to meet a £10,000 shortfall in funding was started by first-team coach driver Colin Swann last month.

Anybody who would like to contribute to the appeal can send cheques payable to "YCFC Ltd" to KitKat Crescent or phone club secretary Nick Bassett on 0870 777 1922.

Have your say

Would Andy McWilliams be your first choice full-back next season?