Threesome look to earn professional contracts

THREE former Maiden City Soccer Academy graduates admits this coming season is the biggest in their short footballing careers.
Pictured at the launch of the Summer Fun Weeks 2013 by the Maiden City Soccer Academy at St. Columb's Park House were, from left, John Cunningham, Craig Lynch, coaches, Kristin Gibson, Glasgow Rangers FC, Aaron McEneff, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Mehawl Martin, Charlton Athletic FC, Ryan Semple and Stephen Parkhouse, coaches. INLS2513-156KMPictured at the launch of the Summer Fun Weeks 2013 by the Maiden City Soccer Academy at St. Columb's Park House were, from left, John Cunningham, Craig Lynch, coaches, Kristin Gibson, Glasgow Rangers FC, Aaron McEneff, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Mehawl Martin, Charlton Athletic FC, Ryan Semple and Stephen Parkhouse, coaches. INLS2513-156KM
Pictured at the launch of the Summer Fun Weeks 2013 by the Maiden City Soccer Academy at St. Columb's Park House were, from left, John Cunningham, Craig Lynch, coaches, Kristin Gibson, Glasgow Rangers FC, Aaron McEneff, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Mehawl Martin, Charlton Athletic FC, Ryan Semple and Stephen Parkhouse, coaches. INLS2513-156KM

Spurs’ Aaron McEneff, Charlton Athletic’s Mehawl Martin and Rangers’ Kristian Gibson are all on their final year scholarships at their respect clubs.

The trio, who helped launch Maiden City Soccer’s Fun Week programme, which is held throughout the North West in July/August, know exactly what they have to do if they harbour any hopes of securing a professional deal.

Ex-Institute starlet McEneff admits the glitz and glamour of London was something which took him a while to get used to.

“I took me a while to settle in at the start, but after getting my clearance through and playing a couple of matches, helped me,” acknowledged the Northern Ireland U19 international.

“Once I got settled in and started playing in nearly every match for the remainder of the season has been good.”

The talented midfielder knows that the White Hart Lane men have scouts all around the world and that boss Andre Villas-Boas will be looking to improve his squad with world class talent.

“A big team like Spurs they are looking at players from all around the world, so this season I’ll be up with the U21’s, so I’m looking to just push on and hopefully I’ll get that pro contract at the end of the year.

“I know when I’m in the U21 squad I need to look to push on and maybe get a couple of games for them and then hopefully if you do well then that’s when you could maybe train with the first team a few times and then you never know what could happen then.”

As for Gibson he’s looking to try and push his way into first team reckoning this coming campaign.

“I have been playing in the Reserves for the last year, hopefully I get a chance to be in and around with the first team this year,” stated the Donemana teenager.

“This year I have to make my mark at Rangers, staring with training harder and try to get a regular start with the Reserves and then look to see how things go from there.

“I have been with Rangers for the last two years and I’m really enjoying the experience. I move into a flat this season, so I know how big this season is for me.”

The 18-year-old has already tasted success at Ibrox as he was part of the Gers second string squad that won the SFL Reserve League title last season and he’s hoping that manager Ally McCoist will have noticed him last season.

“It was a brilliant experience to be part of the squad when we won the league and to get to celebrate it.

“I’ve been mainly on the bench for the reserves, but I’ve come on twice this season and hopefully I can get a start when the cup gets under way and cement my place in the side.

“We get to play practice matches against the first team, which are normally played in front of the gaffer (Ally McCoist) so hopefully I can catch his eye.”

For Martin he too is loving life at the Valley and like everyone at Charlton was disappointed they missed out on a Championship play-off spot.

“Hopefully the first team can get into the play-off’s next season, we had a great start and then half-way through the season they had a wee dip in form, but hopefully they can change that is coming season.”

The talented midfielder is looking to push on this campaign and force his way into the Reserve set-up before maybe trying to catch first team boss Chris Powell’s eye.

“My aim is to continue to work hard and look to try and get into the Reserve team and hopefully play well from there.

“We all know that it’s a massive year, in fact it’s our biggest year as we are looking for a professional contract, so yeah there’s more added pressure but you just have to deal with that.”

For more information on MCS Fun Weeks please call either John Cunningham on (0774) 624 3728 or Craig Lynch on (0782) 106 2811 or e-mail: [email protected].