CITY have shown their faith in the current production line by handing first pro contracts to nine academy prospects.

Dylan Youmbi, Jack Wilson, Cole Roberts, Bobby Pointon and Harvey Rowe, all 18, recently completed their two-year scholarship programmes and have all signed one-year deals.

Meanwhile, Jay Tinsdale and Freddy Jeffreys, both aged 16, 17-year-olds Noah Wadsworth and Sam Bentley and Freddy Jeffreys (16) have been offered one-year contracts to begin from the start of the 2023/2024 campaign.

The players all featured throughout Martin Drury’s under-19s’ EFL Youth Alliance North East division title-winning campaign, and will remain available for selection in the side, which will be led by Ryan Farrell, next term.

Their promotion follows goalkeeper Heath Richardson, who penned his deal earlier this week.

Pointon, a midfielder, said: “I am over the moon. This has been a dream since I was young.

“I have been here since I was nine and have been a City supporter all my life, so this means everything to me.”

Defender Rowe, who was offered his deal 12 months ago, said: “I am very pleased. Turning professional is every child’s dream.

“The coaches in the academy are doing a fantastic job in setting that culture for us as players to follow, and I think we all have them to thank for the journeys we have been on.”

Youmbi, last season’s under-19s top goal-scorer, said: “It was great to get the news from the staff, who I would like to thank for their hard work with me over the past two years.

“I like to score goals and provide assists for my team-mates. The coaches have helped us all a lot, so we all have a responsibility to keep working hard and encouraging each other to increase our standards.”

Drury, City’s head of coaching and player development, added: “These players will admit themselves that the past year or two across their scholarships have been challenging.

“They have been tested in a lot of different environments but have always shown that culture we try to instil.

“The biggest compliment we can give them is that we trust them to do the right things and make the right choices, whether we are around or not. Every time they step in the building, they know who they represent.

“In terms of what the supporters here demand, this group has honesty and relentless work ethic in abundance.

“We have a lot of attacking players this time around, which is very pleasing to see.

“In previous years, we have mainly seen defenders brought through, but here there are some really talented forward players who, looking at their numbers, we are really excited about.”