Youngsters sign in

Back L->R: Vince Overson, Jack Overson, Tom Blackler, Dale Underwood, Terry Pashley, Jeff Taylor Front L->R: Jay Rodriguez, Connor Smith, Paul Casey, Ali Akbar

They were welcomed by Head of Youth Development Vince Overson, Youth Team Coach Terry Pashley and Child Protection Officer Jeff Taylor as they took their first steps as apprentices.

They have joined second year apprentices Mark Crossley, Cayne Hanley, Rob Henry, Kyle Lafferty, Chris McCann, Nicky Platt and Martin Reilly along with our one surviving third year scholar Marc Pugh.

Clarets Mad wish them all every success and hope to see some of them eventually reach the first team squad.

The new apprentices:

Ali Akbar

Ali is a winger who is comfortable on either the right or the left and has come through the club’s Centre of Excellence. He’s Burnley born and was at Habergham High School. Although all seven have previously featured occasionally in the youth squad, Ali is the only of the seven to have played for the reserves.

Tom Blackler

Tom is the exception in that he was the one not involved at our Centre of Excellence. He’s been snapped up from Dario G’s academy at Crewe. He’s from Stalybridge and was initially with Manchester United as a striker but has been converted to a right back at Crewe.

Paul Casey

Paul is from Oldham where he attended North Chadderton High School – he’s played at left back for the Centre of Excellence teams.

Jack Overson

This is a familiar name and Jack is the son of our Head of Youth Development and former central defender Vince and like Vince he plays at the back. Jack played in a couple of the big cup ties for the youth team towards the end of last season. He was at Ivy Bank school in Burnley.

Jay Rodriguez

This is another familiar name, certainly in terms of local football, where his dad Kiko has been a very successful player who also made an appearance for the Clarets’ reserves. Jay, like his dad, is a forward and was at Barden High School.

Connor Smith

Connor is the third of the seven whose dad has previously worn the claret & blue shirt. Geoff, his dad, was an apprentice himself with the Clarets in the early 1980s and played a number of reserve games for the club. Son Connor is a midfield player who was at Ivy Bank.

Dale Underwood

Last but certainly not least Dale, like Connor, plays in midfield and he featured regularly with the youth team at the end of last season. He’s from Clitheroe where he attended Ribblesdale High School. Apart from his midfield play he also possesses a long throw.