The club is delighted to formally announce that two of our top young players and Academy graduates – Ben Cushnie and Aaron Wightman – have formally signed contract extensions with the club.
We are equally delighted that one of our most exciting young Academy prospects – left wing back Jonathan Russell – has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Ben signs his contract with Paul Millar and Mick McDermott in the manager's office
Ben (20) has been with the club since he was nine years old and has firmly established himself in the first team matchday squad this season with fifteen appearances so far, mostly as a second half impact substitute, scoring an excellent goal v Ballymena United in November to add to his first goal v Crusaders.
Ben said of his extension: “Obviously I’m very happy to sign a new contract extension with the club. This is my first real season of playing in the Danske Bank Premiership and I’m really pleased to have made a good few appearances so far. Hopefully, there will be opportunities to get on the pitch more regularly so for me it’s just about working hard and waiting for the opportunities to come.”
Aaron with Paul and Mick
Aaron, who doesn’t turn 18 until next month, has been with the club since he was six years old, and was a member of our all-conquering Year 2004 “Dream Team”. The exciting wide man made his first team debut v Crusaders at the end of last season and is now firmly established as a member of the first team squad. He attends the Glentoran Football Academy at Ashfield Boys School and has made three first team appearances this season, a great achievement for such a young player when you consider the wealth of attacking options available to Mick McDermott.
Aaron told www.glentoran.com : “I’m delighted to have signed a new contract it has been very good for me being in and around the first team squad. I’ve been at the Glens for as long as I can remember and its fantastic to have broken into the first team squad so early. The more experienced players have been great to work with and learn from and I plan to keep my head down and take every opportunity I get.”
Jonny Russell signs his first professional contract with his dad Jeff (centre) with Andy Mathieson (Head of Player Development) and Head Coach Mick McDermott
Jonathan Russell (17) has been with the club nearly eight years and was so highly rated at a young age that he was actually given his first team debut on his sixteenth birthday v H&W Welders in a pre-season friendly in September 2000. He also had first team action in the 2021 season and was on the bench for the New Year’s Day home game v Larne. Jonny is the son of former Glentoran centre half Jeff Russell and the grandson of Ballymena United legend and appearance record holder Eddie Russell.
Jonny said last night: “I’m delighted to sign my first professional contact with Glentoran, a club that I have been with for the past seven years. I joined when I was 10 years old and played in the successful 2004 team that was managed by Jason Lindsey. Jason was a big help in my development in my younger years. I progressed through from the 04s to the u16s then to the u18 then to the reserves. I’d like to thank Seconds manager Norman Kelly and his coaching staff for their hard work and helping me to progress to my first professional contract. Finally I would like to thank Mick, Paul and Andy for giving me this opportunity.”
Three young players with an incredible 31 years at Glentoran between them. What an incredible testimonial to the work of the Glentoran Academy!
