Youth team players Joe Hanks and Ed Williams have signed professional terms with Cheltenham Town.
Youth team players Ed Williams and Joe Hanks have both signed one year contracts with Cheltenham Town.Joe and Ed are 18 and 17 years-old respectively and their contracts represent their first deals as professional footballers. Both have signed one year deals and will link up with the first team squad on Thursday 27 June ready for the 2013-14 campaign.
Both players are local with Joe coming from Churchdown in Gloucester and Ed based in Cheltenham itself. The young duo join the likes of the Duff brothers, Dave Bird and Andy Gallinagh who have all come through the youth academy system.
Joe Hanks has already made his professional debut as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Exeter last October and the youngster admitted that he couldn't wait to get started.
"It's good to get it all done and dusted," said Joe.
"I can't wait to get started and push on. You never know what's around the corner but I've been working hard and I've come a long way since the age of 16 when I first joined the scholarship. I couldn't have asked for a better year.
"The gaffer has been really good to me and to make my debut here against Exeter was a good experience. I was over the moon to make my debut. My mum really wanted me to stick with my education at school originally and John Brough was important to ensuring I stuck with it here at Cheltenham Town."
Ed Williams hasn't debuted for Cheltenham Town yet but he has been training with the first team this season and caught the eye of Mark Yates following his performances in training sessions and youth team matches.
The winger/striker is a former pupil of Cheltenham senior school Balcarras and he admitted that signing a pro deal with the Robins was a dream come true.
"It feels amazing because this is what I wanted since I was a little lad," he admitted.
"I've been with the club for about 6 or 7 years and becoming a first team player was always an aim but not many people get taken on and I never really doubted myself. I try my best every day so I'm happy to have achieved this.
"I knew I had to kick on and Russell Milton helped me do that but training with the first team has helped me and I've learnt a lot in the last two seasons. I'm going to keep my head down and work hard every day on and off the pitch."
Full interviews with both Ed Williams and Joe Hanks will be available on Robins Player shortly.
Want to see Joe and Ed in action next season? Get your 2013-14 season ticket before the end of May and get it at a cheaper price. Click here for more information.