Jack Taylor signs contract

18-year-old Jack was an important member of the Academy team last season, when he also played in the Surrey Senior Cup and scored in the 3-0 win at Merstham, and after continuing in that vein at the start of this season he impressed in loan spells at Isthmian League South East Division Burgess Hill Town, and more recently in the Premier Division at Hornchurch, and has now earned a professional contract with Sutton.

Jack’s rise through the club is a testament to the quality of our academy team, which has just finished fourth in the South East Division of the EFL Youth Alliance and will over the next two months compete in Merit League 1.

Jack said: ”It’s something I’ve been working towards since I started playing when I was about four or five, and now it’s here I’m over the moon to have signed that paper. The work starts now to give myself the best chance.”

Steve Morison said: ”I’m really pleased for Jack, his family and the football club. It’s something we need to do, to bridge the gap between the academy and the first team, as they work really hard and earn their loan moves and there has to be a reward at the end of it. When players like Jack stand out you want to get them tied down and the future of the football club secured, and players like Jack are the future of the club.”

Academy manager Jimmy Dack said: ”We wanted to get the second year academy lads out on loan to get their experience playing in men’s football and it will be less of a gap for them to get in to the first team. Jack did really well at Burgess Hill and we felt he needed to step up to the next level, so he went to Hornchurch and did brilliantly, so he’s earned his professional contract. You couldn’t wish for a nicer kid and it shows that with a good attitude and mentality that anything can happen. I’ve got no doubts he’s going to go on and do really well for himself. Steve’s said that if players are good enough he’ll play them, which is really encouraging for us as an academy knowing we’ll get opportunities, and that’s all you can ask for as a young player.”

You can see the full interview with Jack below