Neil Wilkinson signs pro contract

Vic Park
By Albatross
June 24 2005

Another member of Hartlepool United's youth team has signed a pro contract, the club have announced: Central Defender Neil Wilkinson has agreed a deal with the club. Apparently there are at least a couple more to follow.

Wilkinson has yet to make his debut for the first team, but has been a regular in the reserves for some time and those in the know have considered him someone to keep an eye on for a while.

While his namesake Jack (no relation, thanks to Poolie Girl for pointing this out) may have grabbed some headlines with a couple of goals in 2003/4, Neil has impressed in the centre of defence and has been talked about as a potential first team player a number of times. He has yet to make his debut, but the article on the official site seems to indicate no lack of self-belief. He's a leader as well, having captained the youths, and the profile on the Official Site describes him as "good in the air and a tough tackler."

Wilkinson isn't the only youth teamer to sign a pro contract; Steven Istead had agreed a deal, while it's reported that Andy Appleby and keeper James Winter have also been offered terms; meanwhile Carl Jones and James Brown, still really at scholarship age, are also on pro deals after joining too late to qualify for an apprenticeship. Daniel Fox and Carl Richards have left the club, but there is no news either way on the other Wilkinson, striker Jack.