Promising teenage defender Chris Brown has double cause for celebration after working hard at Rochdale.
Youngster gets first pro deal and nomination for gong in same week
Promising defender Chris Brown has double cause for celebration after working hard at Rochdale.
The 17-year-old is 'over the moon' after becoming the first scholar at the club to sign professional terms under a new rule introduced by the Football League this season.
The rule allows youngsters to sign a pre-season contract once they have reached 17 years of age, securing them to the club before they turn professional on 1st July.
The deal caps a memorable week for Brown, who has also been nominated for the League Two Apprentice of the Year award.
Over moon
He told the club's
official website: "I am over the moon, it has been a brilliant week for me.
"This has come on the back of me being nominated for the apprentice of the year award and I feel very proud of what I have achieved to be honest.
"I've just come into the club every day and tried my best, put 100 per cent in and it's worked out for me.
"I know there's plenty of hard work ahead but I'm determined to break into the first team - that has to be my next goal."
Worked hard
Rochdale's chief executive Colin Garlick added: "Chris has worked very hard since he arrived at the club and developed into a fine young man who should go on to carve out a career in football.
"He has become our first ever scholar to sign under the new Football League rule and we are all delighted he's put pen-to-paper."
The youth-team player has already had a taste of first-team action this season in the 2-1 defeat by Bradford, and has also been named as a substitute on numerous occasions.
