Northampton Town have secured the future of two of their Academy products by signing Morgan Roberts and Sean Whaler on professional contracts.
17 year old Whaler has signed a deal until the summer of 2020 at the end of his two year scholarship period. A player who can play at right back, on the right hand side of midfield or as a number ten, he has been in fine form for the under 18 side, scoring nine goals in the second half of the 2017/18 season. He is a former pupil of Northampton School for Boys, and he joined the Northampton Town Academy as an under 9 player.
Morgan Roberts, also 17, is now contracted to the club until the summer of 2021, and having been a first year player he was only half way through his 2 year scholarship period. Roberts made his first team debut in the final game of the 2017/18 season against Oldham Athletic and is a creative left footed player. Something of a set play specialist, he operates in the number 10 role. A Northampton born player who also attended Northampton School for Boys, Morgan joined the Northampton Town Academy as an under 10 player and progressed through the system.
"They have both really impressed me and are members of the first team squad on merit. But, as I have said to them, this is where the hard work starts. We will be demanding the highest standards from all players and these lads will have to battle hard to secure a place in the first team, but that is their challenge and I have confidence in both of them.
"Morgan has a very mature attitude for a player so young. For someone who is creative, he enjoys the physical side of the game and he is very demanding both of himself and those players around him. I was impressed with the way he handled himself when he came on late against Oldham, he looked very much like he belonged.
"Sean has a lot of energy and pace and has developed his game to be a real goal threat. He is a very calm and composed finisher in front of goal and we have signed both of them because we think they can impact the first team during the period of their contracts.
"It is always good to see local boys who have been with the Academy since they were very young come through and it does show the pathway working. With Shaun McWilliams already in the first team squad and a very good group coming up behind Morgan and Sean, these are exciting times for all of us who believe in young players and believe in the work of the Northampton Town Academy.
"When you think of the players who have already moved on through EPPP, I think Trevor and the team at the Academy here deserve a lot of praise for the players they are producing. It is a powerful message to all young footballers that the Northampton Town Academy is the place for talented local youngsters."