Northampton Town defender Josh Tomlinson has put pen to paper on a long term professional contract at Sixfields Stadium.
Despite having only just turned 17, local lad Tomlinson already has his name steeped in Northampton Town’s history books.
The promising centre-half became the youngest player to represent the club when he made his debut at the back end of last season, aged just 15. Then, in October, he scored in the Papa Johns Trophy vs Arsenal U21s, a goal which saw him become the Cobblers’ youngest ever goal scorer at just 16 years and 321 days.
Northampton manager, Jon Brady, said: “We are delighted to sign Josh to a long term professional deal.
“We rate Josh very highly. Despite his very young years, he has a maturity about him and anyone who has seen his performances for the first team will have witnessed.
“To hold the youngest ever appearance maker and the youngest ever goal scorer in the long history of this club is very special and we believe, if he continues his progress and continues to work hard, he could have a bright future ahead of him.
“He will be the first to admit he has a long way to go and a lot to learn and he will continue that education both within the academy and the first team squad but his performances so far have shown how much potential he has and that is a real credit to the work of Josh, his family and the academy here at the club and our player pathway.
“When I was the youth team manager, we bloodied Josh in the youth team when he was just 13, meaning he was also the youngest player ever to play for the youth team, and that is another club record he currently holds.”
Tomlinson himself said: “I am very proud to sign this contract. I was proud to be the youngest ever player, then the youngest ever goal scorer and now to sign this contract is a dream come true.
“I have to say a big thank you to my family and all of the coaches I have worked with in the Northampton Town academy. This is a fantastic club to be a young player at, the coaching is top class and the environment is perfect to help young players develop. Shane Goddard has been a huge help to me and given my position I am lucky to have the experience of the likes of Ian Sampson and Kelvin Langmead to call upon in the academy as well as Colin Calderwood and of course Jon Brady in the first team.
“There is plenty of hard work ahead but I am delighted to have been offered and to sign this contract.”
